An approach to facilitating event-based currency is provided. A first virtual currency usable by users of a game space to purchase in-space benefits may be managed. An event in the game space that is conducted during an event time period may be managed such that, during the event time period, an event virtual currency may be distributed to one or more of the users as a reward for certain operations and/or achievements performed in the game space during the event time period. Exchanges of in-space benefits associated with the event virtual currency may be effectuated for one or more of the users. In some implementations, the event virtual currency may not available to the users after the event time period, while the first virtual currency may be available to the users during and after the event time period.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
2.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A QUEST FROM A PROBABILITY ITEM BUNDLE IN AN ONLINE GAME
A system and method for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game. The system and method include executing an instance of an online game. The system and method include maintaining inventories of virtual items, and presenting offers to sell probability item bundles. The system and method include associating potential awards in sets of potential awards with different award distribution probabilities. The system and method include receiving activation requests from users for purchased probability item bundles. The system and method include stochastically selecting one of the potential awards in accordance with the award distribution probabilities and providing access to a first quest in an online game in accordance with the selected award.
A63F 13/70 - Game security or game management aspects
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
Systems and methods for incentivizing user participation in gameplay events that take place in an online game are presented herein. The gameplay events may include one or more time intervals that take place during the duration of the gameplay event. The time intervals may be associated with incentivizing one or more actions and/or activities by the users during the intervals. The users may be distributed awards based on their performance during the intervals. The awards associated with time interval performance may impact awards distributed based on final ranking in the gameplay event.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
Recommendations for in-game content are provided to players of an online game. An instance of a virtual space is executed in which an online game is conducted and implemented to facilitate presentation of a view of the virtual space to users through client computing platforms associated with the users. Device specification sets of the client computing devices are determined and recommendations for in-game content are presented to the users based on the obtained device specification sets of the client computing devices associated with the users.
A63F 13/24 - Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/422 - Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
5.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRICING OF VIRTUAL CONTAINERS DETERMINED STOCHASTICALLY UPON ACTIVATION
An approach to facilitating pricing of virtual containers is provided. Item prices associated with obtaining item instances of virtual items in a game space may be determined. Probabilities that container instances of virtual containers will provide individual ones of the item instances of the virtual items upon activation by users in the game space may be determined. Container prices to be associated with obtaining the container instances of the virtual containers may be determined based on the determined item prices and/or the determined probabilities. A store interface may present offers to the users to purchase the container instances of the virtual containers at the determined container prices.
A system and method for providing online games on client devices based on capabilities of the client devices are disclosed. Device capability information may be obtained from the client devices during the online game. Values of one or more capability parameters may be determined based on the device capability information obtained. Device profiles may be assigned to the client devices based on the determined values of the capability parameters. One or more game features may be adjusted in accordance with the assigned device profile for implementing the online game on the client devices. The adjustable game features may include frame rate, level of detail of rendering, level of 3D graphics, level of collision effects, animation type, gameplay available for user interaction, gameplay content for user interaction, communication mode, physics effects available for display, level of artificial intelligence, and/or any other features of the online game.
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
A63F 13/358 - Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
A63F 13/77 - Game security or game management aspects involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
A system and method for facilitating user interactions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface is disclosed. One or more potential inputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information may be determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat session through a graphical chat interface. An activity notification may be generated for the user based one the determined potential inputs and/or the virtual space status information. The generated activity notification may comprise graphical representation for the notification and as well as representation information for one or more controls facilitating the user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification through the graphical chat interface. User acceptance to the activity notification via the graphical chat interface may be received. One or more activity commands may be generated based on the received user acceptance and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
G06F 3/04815 - Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
H04L 51/043 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] using or handling presence information
H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
8.
ADJUSTING INDIVIDUALIZED CONTENT MADE AVAILABLE TO USERS OF AN ONLINE GAME BASED ON USER GAMEPLAY INFORMATION
This disclosure relates to adjusting individualized content made available to users of an online game based on user gameplay information. In implementations, information relating to prospective usage of the online game is used to classify users according by user type, and content made available to the users is customized accordingly. Information relating to prospective usage may include predictive information such as demographic and geographic information, as well as game usage information for the users. User types may include resource collection, player versus player, and player versus environment. Customized content may include content made available to the users through the users in-game actions, such as exploring a map, researching a technology or skill, purchasing an in-game item, and completing an in-game achievement, including in-game items, in-game powers, in-game skills, in-game technologies, in-game pets, in-game transportation units, in-game units, and in-game buildings.
A63F 13/67 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
9.
UNLOCKING GAME CONTENT BASED ON AMOUNTS OF COLLABORATIVE GAMEPLAY
This disclosure relates to unlocking game content for users of an online game based on amounts of collaborative gameplay. Groups of users interacting with the online game cooperatively are identified and amounts of cooperative gameplay engaged in by the individual groups are quantified. Content in the online game is made available to the groups of users based on the quantified amounts of cooperative gameplay. In implementations, the quantification of the amount of cooperative gameplay engaged in by the groups is made independent from achievement and/or successful accomplishment of any game objective in the online game by the groups.
A63F 13/65 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
10.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL ITEMS TO USERS OF A VIRTUAL SPACE
A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/87 - Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
A system and method for facilitating lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms distinguishes activities performed prior to interactive gameplay and during interactive gameplay. Different client computing platforms may have different levels of graphics performance. Lighting may be defined by characteristics of one or more light sources that illuminate one or more objects in a multi-dimensional volume in a virtual space. Different lighting techniques or lighting features may be combined to create lighting during interactive gameplay. Some lighting techniques or lighting features may only be available and/or supported on high-performance computing platforms, whereas other lighting features may be available even on low-performance computing platforms.
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
12.
INCENTIVIZED TASK COMPLETION USING CHANCE-BASED AWARDS
A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
13.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING PRIZES OR AWARDS BASED ON A PLATFORM
One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a system to encourage cross platform operation in an online game. The online game may provide the ability to provide incentives for participating in cross platform game play. The system may monitor the player's performance on a particular console and provide incentives to accomplish tasks through game play on a different platform than the player is currently operating to play the game.
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A63F 13/25 - Output arrangements for video game devices
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/92 - Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for registered users for transmission of messages among users in the fields of online gaming, issues of general interest, virtual community creation; chat room services for social networking. Downloadable electronic video games software for use on mobile phones and handheld computers; Downloadable electronic game programs and software Entertainment services, namely, providing online computer games; Providing a website featuring blogs in the fields of social networking, entertainment and computer games Providing access to online games, namely, providing temporary use of non-downloadable games software via a website; Hosting online computer games, namely, server hosting
15.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL ITEMS TO USERS OF A VIRTUAL SPACE
Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer.
An approach to facilitate providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space is provided. An event space is provided to users of a primary virtual space, wherein the event space comprises one or more event objectives. Users of the primary virtual space having primary user accounts have associated event space accounts indicating event user parameters, event game parameters, and event inventory information for the first user. The user may be provided with event virtual items for purchase wherein the event virtual items are used in the event space during the event period. In response to a determination of the progress of the user associated with one or more event objectives an event award is determined for distribution to the user, wherein the event award may be used within the primary virtual space.
Systems and methods for incentivizing user participation in gameplay events that take place in an online game are presented herein. The gameplay events may include one or more time intervals that take place during the duration of the gameplay event. The time intervals may be associated with incentivizing one or more actions and/or activities by the users during the intervals. The users may be distributed awards based on their performance during the intervals. The awards associated with time interval performance may impact awards distributed based on final ranking in the gameplay event.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
38 - Telecommunications services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Electronic video games for use on mobile phones and handheld computers; Downloadable electronic game programs and software. (1) Providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for registered users for transmission of messages among users in the fields of online gaming, issues of general interest, virtual community creation; Chat room services for social networking.
(2) Entertainment services, namely, providing online computer games; Providing blogs in the field of social networking, entertainment, and computer games.
(3) Providing access to online games; Hosting online computer games.
19.
System and method for providing limited-time events to users in an online game
A system and method configured to provide limited-time events to users in an online game. The system and method may include executing an instance of an online game and effectuating presentation of offers to users to activate a limited-time event within the online game. Activation of the limited-time event may enable users to perform event runs through the limited-time event for a duration. The execution of event runs through the limited-time event in response to user commands received from a client computing platform associated with the user may deplete the virtual resource in an inventory of the user. The system and method may maintain inventories of the users and recharge the virtual resource as a function of time. The performance of users may be assessed and awards may be distributed to the users based on the assessment of their performance during the event runs. The system and method may include effectuating exchanges by the users of virtual items for the first virtual resource.
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
H04L 7/10 - Arrangements for initial synchronisation
H04L 67/10 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
20.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING COLLABORATION BETWEEN MULTIPLE PLAYERS TO ACHIEVE A GOAL IN A GAME
The disclosure relates to facilitating collaboration between multiple players in an online game to achieve a goal in the game. Achievement of the goal may result in provision of an award related to the goal to one or more of the multiple players and/or to one or more affiliations associated with the multiple player. The goal may comprise a predetermined set of tasks required to be completed by more than one player, or may just comprise a predetermined set of tasks that may be completed by one or more players. Responsive to achieving the goal, the award may be provided to one or more recipients. The recipients may comprise, for example, players that initiated the completion of the goal, one or more players who provided the most input to the goal, one or more affiliations associated with respective one or more players involved in achieving the goal, and/or other entities.
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
21.
FACILITATING EVENT IMPLEMENTATION IN AN ONLINE GAME
A system and method for facilitating implementation of events in an online game are disclosed. Award information may be received from user. The received award information may define a type of in-game award to be distributed to players of the online game. The award information may include information indicate a corresponding award handler for determine and/or distributing the instances of the award to the players. Event information may be received from user. The received event information may specify details for implementing an event in the online game. The received event information may include event award information indicating one or more instances of an award of an award type defined by the received award information. The event information may be used to automatically implement the event in the online game, and the instances of the award may be distributed to the participating players in accordance with the event award information.
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
22.
System and method for providing durational promotions to players
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing durational promotions to players in an online game. The system may adjust the outcome probabilities of winning in a slot machine type of game once the player's content drops below a predetermined threshold so that the player will experience some substantial winning in the initial period. The system may adjust the outcome probabilities of winning in the slot machine type of game for a period of time once a player has purchased content to continue to play the game. This may temporarily adjusting outcome probabilities within the game in favor of a player that has recently made a purchase. This may facilitate positive player experiences subsequent to making purchases, thereby increasing further purchases and/or the likelihood thereof.
One aspect of the disclosure relates to altering a probability of fulfilling a game objective in a game space. The game objective may be associated with a set of potential reward items, the set of potential reward items including a first item. Probabilities of the first item from the set of potential reward items being provided to individual users as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rates of usage of the game space by the user. The probability of the first user being provided with the first item as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rate of usage of the game space by the first user.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/60 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
A63F 13/70 - Game security or game management aspects
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
24.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AWARDS TO USERS OF AN ONLINE GAME
An online game is provided to users via client computing devices. Gameplay metrics are determined for users of the online game based on actions taken by the users in the online game. Secondary games are provided, where the potential awards provided by the secondary games are determined based on the gameplay metrics of the users.
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
A63F 13/88 - Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded
25.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TARGETED RECOMMENDATIONS TO SEGMENTS OF USERS OF A VIRTUAL SPACE
Targeted recommendations may be provided to specific user segments. The users may be segmented on or more user parameters that facilitate targeted provision of recommendations to the individual segments of users. A recommendation may prompt a user to take a recommended action in the game.
A63F 13/5375 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/25 - Output arrangements for video game devices
26.
Facilitating user configured assistance requests through a chat in a virtual space
A system and method for facilitating a user to initiate and accept an assistance request through a chat session is disclosed. Controls may be provided in a graphical chat interface to enable the user to specify inputs to request assistance from other users participating in the chat session. An assistance request may be generated and communicated to those users through the chat session. Graphical representation for the assistance request and controls that facilitate the users to accept the assistance request may be provided in the graphical chat interface. Upon an acceptance to the assistance request by a responding user through the graphical chat interface, an assistance command may be generated and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 9/451 - Execution arrangements for user interfaces
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
G06F 3/04842 - Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
H04L 51/046 - Interoperability with other network applications or services
H04L 51/52 - User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail for supporting social networking services
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
27.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING EXTERNAL NOTIFICATIONS OF EVENTS IN A VIRTUAL SPACE TO USERS
External notifications of events that take place within a virtual space may be provided to users. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), push notification and/or through other external communication media. These external notifications may be generated based on parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that are dynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notifications may include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers of virtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may require a response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers may enhance engagement with the virtual space by users.
A system and method for facilitating user interactions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface is disclosed. One or more potential inputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information may be determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat session through a graphical chat interface. An activity notification may be generated for the user based on the determined potential inputs and/or the virtual space status information. The generated activity notification may comprise graphical representation for the notification and as well as representation information for one or more controls facilitating the user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification through the graphical chat interface. User acceptance to the activity notification via the graphical chat interface may be received. One or more activity commands may be generated based on the received user acceptance and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
G06F 3/04815 - Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
H04L 51/043 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] using or handling presence information
H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
29.
System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space
A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/87 - Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
30.
System and method for providing recommendations for in-game events
Recommendations for in-game content are provided to players of an online game. An instance of a virtual space is executed in which an online game is conducted and implemented to facilitate presentation of a view of the virtual space to users through client computing platforms associated with the users. Device specification sets of the client computing devices are determined and recommendations for in-game content are presented to the users based on the obtained device specification sets of the client computing devices associated with the users.
A63F 13/24 - Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/422 - Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
31.
Dynamic online game implementation on a client device
A system and method for providing online games on client devices based on capabilities of the client devices are disclosed. Device capability information may be obtained from the client devices during the online game. Values of one or more capability parameters may be determined based on the device capability information obtained. Device profiles may be assigned to the client devices based on the determined values of the capability parameters. One or more game features may be adjusted in accordance with the assigned device profile for implementing the online game on the client devices. The adjustable game features may include frame rate, level of detail of rendering, level of 3D graphics, level of collision effects, animation type, gameplay available for user interaction, gameplay content for user interaction, communication mode, physics effects available for display, level of artificial intelligence, and/or any other features of the online game.
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
A63F 13/358 - Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
A63F 13/77 - Game security or game management aspects involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
A system and method for providing offers to facilitate users to complete active game actions in a game space are disclosed. Offers to forego a group of pending wait periods of active game actions may be generated and presented to the users at the same time or near the same time along with offers to forego these pending wait periods individually and separately. In some examples, for incentivizing the users to accept the offer to forego the group of pending wait periods, a discount may be determined for these offers with respect to the offers to forego the group of pending wait periods individually and separately. In some examples, selection of the group of pending wait periods may be made based on likelihoods as to whether the users will spend stored consideration to forego the group of pending wait periods individually and separately.
A63F 13/45 - Controlling the progress of the video game
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing dynamic and static contest prize allocation based on in-game achievement of a user in an online game in order to encourage players to continue to purchase items to improve their tournament metrics even if they may be unable to improve their tournament rank. For example, calculation of a dynamic prize may comprise for rank x, the player may gain 1 prize unit for every y Glory gained (when Glory may be the measured by the tournament). The y value may increase for lower ranks achieved in the tournament.
A63F 13/67 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
34.
System and method for allowing affiliations to utilize in-game items to assist other players
One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured to provide a virtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations. Users of virtual spaces may encounter barriers in a game. During these barriers, users may receive and/or provide assistance to other affiliation members. One aspect of the disclosure relates to allowing affiliations or other groups to utilize in-game items to assist other players in game progress in an online game. This may incent positive player actions towards affiliation members, may enhance engagement between affiliation members, may provide an incentive for users to join an affiliation, and/or have other results. These results may ultimately contribute to enhanced retention, enhanced monetization, enhanced user satisfaction, and/or other enhancements.
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
A63F 13/533 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/87 - Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
35.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A SECONDARY GAME
Facilitating entry and/or selection of one or more awards associated with a secondary game to increase the probability of obtaining a more desirable award. Access to a secondary game may be selectively provided, to players of an online game, to facilitate player participations in individual episodes of the secondary game. A set of potential awards may be obtained together with a set of award probabilities for the set of potential awards. Entry and/or selection of one or more of the potential awards in the set of potential awards to be removed from or replaced in the set of potential awards to create an adjusted set of potential awards, may be received from the player. A first potential may be selected based on the award probabilities and distributed to the first player for use within the online game.
Systems and methods for incentivizing user participation in gameplay events that take place in an online game are presented herein. The gameplay events may include one or more time intervals that take place during the duration of the gameplay event. The time intervals may be associated with incentivizing one or more actions and/or activities by the users during the intervals. The users may be distributed awards based on their performance during the intervals. The awards associated with time interval performance may impact awards distributed based on final ranking in the gameplay event.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer.
A system and method configured to enhance gameplay between users in an online game and to provide enhanced interest in virtual goods associated with collections of virtual goods through the ability to rotate drop rates associated with these virtual goods from time to time. The system and method includes the provision of functionality which allows providers of online games to periodically rotate drop rates associated with mystery boxes in order to maintain and/or generate additional interest in specific mystery boxes. As a result, it is possible for game operators to enhance revenue opportunities associated with these boxes even in the case where such boxes have been available for a relatively lengthy period of time and/or where players would have otherwise lost interest in specific boxes.
A63F 13/45 - Controlling the progress of the video game
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
An approach to facilitating pricing of virtual containers is provided. Item prices associated with obtaining item instances of virtual items in a game space may be determined. Probabilities that container instances of virtual containers will provide individual ones of the item instances of the virtual items upon activation by users in the game space may be determined. Container prices to be associated with obtaining the container instances of the virtual containers may be determined based on the determined item prices and/or the determined probabilities. A store interface may present offers to the users to purchase the container instances of the virtual containers at the determined container prices.
A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
41.
Unlocking game content for users based on affiliation size
This disclosure relates to unlocking game content for users of an online game. In implementations, affiliations between users may be established, and content may be made available to users individually based on the number of users within an affiliation. Content made available to a first user of the affiliation may be made available to the first user individually and independently from other users included in the affiliation.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/73 - Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
42.
IDENTITY-RECOGNITION-BASED PROMOTIONS USING VIRTUAL CONTAINERS
An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.
A system and method for facilitating a user to initiate and accept an assistance request through a chat session is disclosed. Controls may be provided in a graphical chat interface to enable the user to specify inputs to request assistance from other users participating in the chat session. An assistance request may be generated and communicated to those users through the chat session. Graphical representation for the assistance request and controls that facilitate the users to accept the assistance request may be provided in the graphical chat interface. Upon an acceptance to the assistance request by a responding user through the graphical chat interface, an assistance command may be generated and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 9/451 - Execution arrangements for user interfaces
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/52 - User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail for supporting social networking services
G06F 3/04842 - Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
H04L 51/046 - Interoperability with other network applications or services
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
44.
Adjusting individualized content made available to users of an online game based on user gameplay information
This disclosure relates to adjusting individualized content made available to users of an online game based on user gameplay information. In implementations, information relating to prospective usage of the online game is used to classify users according by user type, and content made available to the users is customized accordingly. Information relating to prospective usage may include predictive information such as demographic and geographic information, as well as game usage information for the users. User types may include resource collection, player versus player, and player versus environment. Customized content may include content made available to the users through the users in-game actions, such as exploring a map, researching a technology or skill, purchasing an in-game item, and completing an in-game achievement, including in-game items, in-game powers, in-game skills, in-game technologies, in-game pets, in-game transportation units, in-game units, and in-game buildings.
A63F 13/67 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A system and method for facilitating lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms distinguishes activities performed prior to interactive gameplay and during interactive gameplay. Different client computing platforms may have different levels of graphics performance. Lighting may be defined by characteristics of one or more light sources that illuminate one or more objects in a multi-dimensional volume in a virtual space. Different lighting techniques or lighting features may be combined to create lighting during interactive gameplay. Some lighting techniques or lighting features may only be available and/or supported on high-performance computing platforms, whereas other lighting features may be available even on low-performance computing platforms.
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
46.
System and method for providing in-game pricing relative to player statistics
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing players pricing of in-game virtual items associated with their experience and their progress in the game. For example, the first player and the second player may have similar triggers, similar in-game events, and actually have different prices and currencies inside each story depending on each player's progress in the game, thus creating an individualized experience that may alter from player to player.
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 9/24 - Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A system and method for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game. The system and method include executing an instance of an online game. The system and method include maintaining inventories of virtual items, and presenting offers to sell probability item bundles. The system and method include associating potential awards in sets of potential awards with different award distribution probabilities. The system and method include receiving activation requests from users for purchased probability item bundles. The system and method include stochastically selecting one of the potential awards in accordance with the award distribution probabilities and providing access to a first quest in an online game in accordance with the selected award.
A63F 13/70 - Game security or game management aspects
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
External notifications of events that take place within a virtual space may be provided to users. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), push notification and/or through other external communication media. These external notifications may be generated based on parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that are dynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notifications may include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers of virtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may require a response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers may enhance engagement with the virtual space by users.
An approach to facilitating event-based currency is provided. A first virtual currency usable by users of a game space to purchase in-space benefits may be managed. An event in the game space that is conducted during an event time period may be managed such that, during the event time period, an event virtual currency may be distributed to one or more of the users as a reward for certain operations and/or achievements performed in the game space during the event time period. Exchanges of in-space benefits associated with the event virtual currency may be effectuated for one or more of the users. In some implementations, the event virtual currency may not available to the users after the event time period, while the first virtual currency may be available to the users during and after the event time period.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A system and method for facilitating moving particles in a virtual space use depth information that reflects distances of objects in a virtual space to either a ground level or a viewpoint. The depth information may be stored in a set of information. The system detects collisions of particles and other objects based on the depth information, on a frame-by-frame basis.
A63F 13/573 - Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
G06T 13/60 - 3D [Three Dimensional] animation of natural phenomena, e.g. rain, snow, water or plants
A system and method for dynamically determining parameters of crafting activities for individual users in a virtual space are disclosed. The crafting activity parameters may be determined based on rate of usage of the virtual space by the users. In some examples, a user usage rate of the virtual space may be determined to measure an amount of time a user spend in the virtual space during a period of real-world time. Based on the determined user usage rate of the virtual space, crafting activity parameters may be determined, for example, to balance differences in time spent in the virtual space by the users. In some implementations, for such determinations of the crafting activity parameters, one or more user normalization standards may be obtained.
A63F 13/67 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
A63F 13/45 - Controlling the progress of the video game
G06Q 30/0207 - Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
A63F 13/58 - Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
A63F 13/63 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
A63F 13/80 - Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
G06Q 30/0201 - Market modellingMarket analysisCollecting market data
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
One aspect of the disclosure relates to dynamically altering an in-game experience based on a user's connection to the online game. The online game may monitor connection strength of a device of the user to a network via which the user may access the online game. The online game may dynamically alter the user's experience based on the connection strength of the device. The online game may make available or remove the availability of one or more modes of game play to the user based on the connection strength of the user's device.
A63F 13/358 - Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
H04L 43/0811 - Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters by checking availability by checking connectivity
A63F 13/80 - Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
53.
System and method for providing limited-time events to users in an online game
A system and method configured to provide limited-time events to users in an online game. The system and method may include executing an instance of an online game and effectuating presentation of offers to users to activate a limited-time event within the online game. Activation of the limited-time event may enable users to perform event runs through the limited-time event for a duration. The execution of event runs through the limited-time event in response to user commands received from a client computing platform associated with the user may deplete the virtual resource in an inventory of the user. The system and method may maintain inventories of the users and recharge the virtual resource as a function of time. The performance of users may be assessed and awards may be distributed to the users based on the assessment of their performance during the event runs. The system and method may include effectuating exchanges by the users of virtual items for the first virtual resource.
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
H04L 7/10 - Arrangements for initial synchronisation
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
54.
System and method for facilitating user interaction with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface
A system and method for facilitating user interactions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface is disclosed. One or more potential inputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information may be determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat session through a graphical chat interface. An activity notification may be generated for the user based one the determined potential inputs and/or the virtual space status information. The generated activity notification may comprise graphical representation for the notification and as well as representation information for one or more controls facilitating the user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification through the graphical chat interface. User acceptance to the activity notification via the graphical chat interface may be received. One or more activity commands may be generated based on the received user acceptance and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
G06F 3/04815 - Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
H04L 51/043 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] using or handling presence information
55.
System and method for facilitating collaboration between multiple players to achieve a goal in a game
The disclosure relates to facilitating collaboration between multiple players in an online game to achieve a goal in the game. Achievement of the goal may result in provision of an award related to the goal to one or more of the multiple players and/or to one or more affiliations associated with the multiple player. The goal may comprise a predetermined set of tasks required to be completed by more than one player, or may just comprise a predetermined set of tasks that may be completed by one or more players. Responsive to achieving the goal, the award may be provided to one or more recipients. The recipients may comprise, for example, players that initiated the completion of the goal, one or more players who provided the most input to the goal, one or more affiliations associated with respective one or more players involved in achieving the goal, and/or other entities.
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
56.
System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space
Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer.
A system and method for facilitating a user to initiate and accept an assistance request through a chat session is disclosed. Controls may be provided in a graphical chat interface to enable the user to specify inputs to request assistance from other users participating in the chat session. An assistance request may be generated and communicated to those users through the chat session. Graphical representation for the assistance request and controls that facilitate the users to accept the assistance request may be provided in the graphical chat interface. Upon an acceptance to the assistance request by a responding user through the graphical chat interface, an assistance command may be generated and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 9/451 - Execution arrangements for user interfaces
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/52 - User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail for supporting social networking services
G06F 3/04842 - Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
H04L 51/046 - Interoperability with other network applications or services
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
58.
Dynamic item obtain rate based on player progression, action, and other in-game behavior
One aspect of the disclosure relates to altering a probability of fulfilling a game objective in a game space. The game objective may be associated with a set of potential reward items, the set of potential reward items including a first item. Probabilities of the first item from the set of potential reward items being provided to individual users as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rates of usage of the game space by the user. The probability of the first user being provided with the first item as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rate of usage of the game space by the first user.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/70 - Game security or game management aspects
A63F 13/60 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
59.
System and method for providing targeted recommendations to segments of users of a virtual space
Targeted recommendations may be provided to specific user segments. The users may be segmented on or more user parameters that facilitate targeted provision of recommendations to the individual segments of users. A recommendation may prompt a user to take a recommended action in the game.
A63F 13/5375 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/25 - Output arrangements for video game devices
60.
Facilitating event implementation in an online game
A system and method for facilitating implementation of events in an online game are disclosed. Award information may be received from user. The received award information may define a type of in-game award to be distributed to players of the online game. The award information may include information indicate a corresponding award handler for determine and/or distributing the instances of the award to the players. Event information may be received from user. The received event information may specify details for implementing an event in the online game. The received event information may include event award information indicating one or more instances of an award of an award type defined by the received award information. The event information may be used to automatically implement the event in the online game, and the instances of the award may be distributed to the participating players in accordance with the event award information.
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
61.
System and method for determining the value of channels
A system configured to determine the value of channels responsive to users requesting installation of a client application through the channels. The client application may provide access to an online game. A given channel may be characterized by a promotional information item, a platform through which the promotional information item is presented to potential users, and/or other information. Predicted economic values for the users that requested installation of the client application through one or more channels may be determined based parameter values for the users. Effectiveness metrics for the channels may be determined based on the predicted economic values of the users. Subsequent consideration expenditures for one or more of the channels may be recommended and/or executed based on a comparison effectiveness metrics determined.
A system and method for providing online games on client devices based on capabilities of the client devices are disclosed. Device capability information may be obtained from the client devices during the online game. Values of one or more capability parameters may be determined based on the device capability information obtained. Device profiles may be assigned to the client devices based on the determined values of the capability parameters. One or more game features may be adjusted in accordance with the assigned device profile for implementing the online game on the client devices. The adjustable game features may include frame rate, level of detail of rendering, level of 3D graphics, level of collision effects, animation type, gameplay available for user interaction, gameplay content for user interaction, communication mode, physics effects available for display, level of artificial intelligence, and/or any other features of the online game.
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/77 - Game security or game management aspects involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
A63F 13/358 - Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a system to encourage cross platform operation in an online game. The online game may provide the ability to provide incentives for participating in cross platform game play. The system may monitor the player's performance on a particular console and provide incentives to accomplish tasks through game play on a different platform than the player is currently operating to play the game.
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/25 - Output arrangements for video game devices
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/92 - Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
64.
Unlocking game content based on amounts of collaborative gameplay
This disclosure relates to unlocking game content for users of an online game based on amounts of collaborative gameplay. Groups of users interacting with the online game cooperatively are identified and amounts of cooperative gameplay engaged in by the individual groups are quantified. Content in the online game is made available to the groups of users based on the quantified amounts of cooperative gameplay. In implementations, the quantification of the amount of cooperative gameplay engaged in by the groups is made independent from achievement and/or successful accomplishment of any game objective in the online game by the groups.
A63F 13/65 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
65.
System and method for providing durational promotions to players
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing durational promotions to players in an online game. The system may adjust the outcome probabilities of winning in a slot machine type of game once the player's content drops below a predetermined threshold so that the player will experience some substantial winning in the initial period. The system may adjust the outcome probabilities of winning in the slot machine type of game for a period of time once a player has purchased content to continue to play the game. This may temporarily adjusting outcome probabilities within the game in favor of a player that has recently made a purchase. This may facilitate positive player experiences subsequent to making purchases, thereby increasing further purchases and/or the likelihood thereof.
External notifications of events that take place within a virtual space may be provided to users. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), push notification and/or through other external communication media. These external notifications may be generated based on parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that are dynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notifications may include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers of virtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may require a response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers may enhance engagement with the virtual space by users.
A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
Facilitating entry and/or selection of one or more awards associated with a secondary game to increase the probability of obtaining a more desirable award. Access to a secondary game may be selectively provided, to players of an online game, to facilitate player participations in individual episodes of the secondary game. A set of potential awards may be obtained together with a set of award probabilities for the set of potential awards. Entry and/or selection of one or more of the potential awards in the set of potential awards to be removed from or replaced in the set of potential awards to create an adjusted set of potential awards, may be received from the player. A first potential may be selected based on the award probabilities and distributed to the first player for use within the online game.
An approach to facilitating identity-recognition-based promotions using virtual containers is provided. A first virtual container may be associated with a first virtual item set and identified by a first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased through a store interface during a first time period may be configured to be activated by users in a game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the first virtual item set. The first virtual container may be modified to be associated with a second virtual item set and identified by the first container identifier. Container instances of the first virtual container that are purchased during a second time period may be container instances of the modified first virtual container that are configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain item instances of virtual items of the second virtual item set.
A system and method are disclosed for providing an in-game offer to one or more users of an online game. The offer is provided to users that have parameters and/or characteristics meeting administrator defined parameters and/or characteristics. In some implementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase of the offer by providing one or more bonus items upon the offer being selected by the player. Both the offer and the bonus may be presented to the user prior to selection of the offer. The offer and the bonus item may only be available to the user for a defined period of time.
A system and method for facilitating a user to initiate and accept an assistance request through a chat session is disclosed. Controls may be provided in a graphical chat interface to enable the user to specify inputs to request assistance from other users participating in the chat session. An assistance request may be generated and communicated to those users through the chat session. Graphical representation for the assistance request and controls that facilitate the users to accept the assistance request may be provided in the graphical chat interface. Upon an acceptance to the assistance request by a responding user through the graphical chat interface, an assistance command may be generated and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
G06F 9/451 - Execution arrangements for user interfaces
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
H04L 51/52 - User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail for supporting social networking services
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
G06F 3/04842 - Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
H04L 51/046 - Interoperability with other network applications or services
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
72.
System and method for providing recommendations for in-game events
Recommendations for in-game content are provided to players of an online game. An instance of a virtual space is executed in which an online game is conducted and implemented to facilitate presentation of a view of the virtual space to users through client computing platforms associated with the users. Device specification sets of the client computing devices are determined and recommendations for in-game content are presented to the users based on the obtained device specification sets of the client computing devices associated with the users.
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/24 - Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
A63F 13/422 - Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
A system and method for facilitating lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms distinguishes activities performed prior to interactive gameplay and during interactive gameplay. Different client computing platforms may have different levels of graphics performance. Lighting may be defined by characteristics of one or more light sources that illuminate one or more objects in a multi-dimensional volume in a virtual space. Different lighting techniques or lighting features may be combined to create lighting during interactive gameplay. Some lighting techniques or lighting features may only be available and/or supported on high-performance computing platforms, whereas other lighting features may be available even on low-performance computing platforms.
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
74.
System and method for allowing affiliations to utilize in-game items to assist other players
One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured to provide a virtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations. Users of virtual spaces may encounter barriers in a game. During these barriers, users may receive and/or provide assistance to other affiliation members. One aspect of the disclosure relates to allowing affiliations or other groups to utilize in-game items to assist other players in game progress in an online game. This may incent positive player actions towards affiliation members, may enhance engagement between affiliation members, may provide an incentive for users to join an affiliation, and/or have other results. These results may ultimately contribute to enhanced retention, enhanced monetization, enhanced user satisfaction, and/or other enhancements.
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/847 - Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/87 - Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
A63F 13/335 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers using wide area network [WAN] connections using Internet
A63F 13/533 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A system and method are disclosed for providing an in-game offer to one or more users of an online game. The offer is provided to users that have parameters and/or characteristics meeting administrator defined parameters and/or characteristics. In some implementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase of the offer by providing one or more bonus items upon the offer being selected by the player. Both the offer and the bonus may be presented to the user prior to selection of the offer. The offer and the bonus item may only be available to the user for a defined period of time.
A system and method for providing positional error correction for particles of destructible objects in a three-dimensional volume in a virtual space includes electronic storage to store center-of-mass information of a set of objects, using a high-precision floating point format. Prior to runtime and/or interactive manipulation of the set of objects, a texture map is generated that includes positional information in a floating point format having less precision than the high-precision floating point format. A simulation uses this texture map to determine simulated center-of-mass information of the set of objects. This simulated center-of-mass information is compared with the previously stored center-of-mass information to determine which objects have positional errors, and which offsets are needed to correct the positional errors. The stored center-of-mass information is adjusted by the determined offsets, such that subsequent use, during interactive runtime, has no or reduced positional errors and/or artifacts caused by positional errors.
An approach to facilitating virtual item promotions via time-period-based virtual item benefits is provided. A store interface may present offers to users of a game space to purchase item instances of virtual items associated with in-space benefits. Item instances of a first virtual item may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain one or more first in-space benefits. A promotion that is conducted for the game space may be managed such that, during a first promotion time period, item instances of the first virtual item purchased through the store interface may be modified instances of the first virtual item. The modified instances may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space during a second promotion time period to obtain one or more second in-space benefits.
A63F 13/61 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor using advertising information
G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising
78.
System and method for providing in-game pricing relative to player statistics
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing players pricing of in-game virtual items associated with their experience and their progress in the game. For example, the first player and the second player may have similar triggers, similar in-game events, and actually have different prices and currencies inside each story depending on each player's progress in the game, thus creating an individualized experience that may alter from player to player.
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A63F 9/24 - Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
A system and method configured to enhance gameplay between users in an online game and to provide enhanced interest in virtual goods associated with collections of virtual goods through the ability to rotate drop rates associated with these virtual goods from time to time. The system and method includes the provision of functionality which allows providers of online games to periodically rotate drop rates associated with mystery boxes in order to maintain and/or generate additional interest in specific mystery boxes. As a result, it is possible for game operators to enhance revenue opportunities associated with these boxes even in the case where such boxes have been available for a relatively lengthy period of time and/or where players would have otherwise lost interest in specific boxes.
A63F 13/45 - Controlling the progress of the video game
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A system and method for facilitating lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms distinguishes activities performed prior to interactive gameplay and during interactive gameplay. Different client computing platforms may have different levels of graphics performance. Lighting may be defined by characteristics of one or more light sources that illuminate one or more objects in a multi-dimensional volume in a virtual space. Different lighting techniques or lighting features may be combined to create lighting during interactive gameplay. Some lighting techniques or lighting features may only be available and/or supported on high-performance computing platforms, whereas other lighting features may be available even on low-performance computing platforms.
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
81.
System and method for implementing a refund calculator in a game
One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a refund calculator in an online game. The refund calculator may provide the ability to prioritize what users may receive items, troops, and/or any other in-game parameters. The refund calculator may provide the ability to determine how many items and/or troops the user may be refunded, the time frame in which the user receives the items, troops and/or other aspects of a refund.
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A63F 9/24 - Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
G07F 17/00 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services
G07F 19/00 - Complete banking systemsCoded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
82.
System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space
Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer.
Targeted recommendations may be provided to specific user segments. The users may be segmented on or more user parameters that facilitate targeted provision of recommendations to the individual segments of users. A recommendation may prompt a user to take a recommended action in the game.
A63F 13/5375 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
A63F 13/25 - Output arrangements for video game devices
84.
System and method for providing awards to users of an online game
An online game is provided to users via client computing devices. Gameplay metrics are determined for users of the online game based on actions taken by the users in the online game. Secondary games are provided, where the potential awards provided by the secondary games are determined based on the gameplay metrics of the users.
A63F 13/50 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
A63F 13/88 - Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded
85.
Systems and methods for incentivizing participation in gameplay events in an online game
Systems and methods for incentivizing user participation in gameplay events that take place in an online game are presented herein. The gameplay events may include one or more time intervals that take place during the duration of the gameplay event. The time intervals may be associated with incentivizing one or more actions and/or activities by the users during the intervals. The users may be distributed awards based on their performance during the intervals. The awards associated with time interval performance may impact awards distributed based on final ranking in the gameplay event.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
System communications tailored to individual users may be dynamically provided based on monitored types of user activity in a virtual space. A given system communication may include one or more of a third-party advertisement, an offer for in-space products, an offer in-space services, an informative message, and/or other system communications. Monitored types of user activity include registering as a user, establishing a relationship with another user, and customizing a user character. Responsive to such activity, information is obtained regarding an amount of real-world money the user has spent and the total time spent by the user during gameplay. This information is used to select system communications. System communications may be provided for presentation to users via one or more communication channels.
H04L 41/22 - Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
A system and method for providing online games on client devices based on capabilities of the client devices are disclosed. Device capability information may be obtained from the client devices during the online game. Values of one or more capability parameters may be determined based on the device capability information obtained. Device profiles may be assigned to the client devices based on the determined values of the capability parameters. One or more game features may be adjusted in accordance with the assigned device profile for implementing the online game on the client devices. The adjustable game features may include frame rate, level of detail of rendering, level of 3D graphics, level of collision effects, animation type, gameplay available for user interaction, gameplay content for user interaction, communication mode, physics effects available for display, level of artificial intelligence, and/or any other features of the online game.
A63F 13/355 - Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/77 - Game security or game management aspects involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
A63F 13/358 - Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
88.
System and method for facilitating user interaction with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface
A system and method for facilitating user interactions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface is disclosed. One or more potential inputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information may be determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat session through a graphical chat interface. An activity notification may be generated for the user based one the determined potential inputs and/or the virtual space status information. The generated activity notification may comprise graphical representation for the notification and as well as representation information for one or more controls facilitating the user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification through the graphical chat interface. User acceptance to the activity notification via the graphical chat interface may be received. One or more activity commands may be generated based on the received user acceptance and executed in the virtual space.
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
G06F 3/0484 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
H04L 65/403 - Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
H04L 12/18 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference
H04L 51/04 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
G06F 3/04815 - Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
H04L 51/043 - Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] using or handling presence information
89.
Adjusting individualized content made available to users of an online game based on user gameplay information
This disclosure relates to adjusting individualized content made available to users of an online game based on user gameplay information. In implementations, information relating to prospective usage of the online game is used to classify users according by user type, and content made available to the users is customized accordingly. Information relating to prospective usage may include predictive information such as demographic and geographic information, as well as game usage information for the users. User types may include resource collection, player versus player, and player versus environment. Customized content may include content made available to the users through the users in-game actions, such as exploring a map, researching a technology or skill, purchasing an in-game item, and completing an in-game achievement, including in-game items, in-game powers, in-game skills, in-game technologies, in-game pets, in-game transportation units, in-game units, and in-game buildings.
A63F 9/24 - Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
A63F 13/67 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/79 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
90.
Unlocking game content for users based on affiliation size
This disclosure relates to unlocking game content for users of an online game. In implementations, affiliations between users may be established, and content may be made available to users individually based on the number of users within an affiliation. Content made available to a first user of the affiliation may be made available to the first user individually and independently from other users included in the affiliation.
A63F 13/73 - Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
91.
Incentivized task completion using chance-based awards
A game provided to users of a game space may include a task to be performed by the users. A plurality of virtual chance items may be composed. Individual ones of the virtual chance items may be configured to be activated by the users in the game space to obtain virtual awards in the game space. The virtual awards may include one or more primary awards and one or more secondary awards. Composing the virtual chance items may include determining probabilities that the individual virtual chance items will provide a primary award and/or a secondary award upon activation. The virtual chance items may be distributed to the users that complete the task responsive to these users completing the task. The virtual awards may be provided to the users in accordance with the probabilities assigned to the virtual chance items in response to the users activating the virtual chance items.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
92.
GENERATING SEGMENTED NOTIFICATIONS IN A VIRTUAL SPACE
A system and method for facilitating segmented notifications relating to a virtual space are disclosed. Such notifications may be segmented for different user segments within the virtual space. In some examples, the segmentation of the notification may be at least in part with respect to contents included in notification for different user segments. The content segmentation may be with respect to a communication style, pattern, format, a language expressed in, one or more culture references used and/or any other aspects related to contents that may be included in notifications for the different user segments. In some examples, the notifications may include incentive offers and may be segmented with respect to parameters of the incentive offers for presentation to the different user segments. In some implementations, transmission frequencies for transmitting notifications to the different user segments may be determined.
An approach to facilitate providing an event space associated with a primary virtual space is provided. An event space is provided to users of a primary virtual space, wherein the event space comprises one or more event objectives. Users of the primary virtual space having primary user accounts have associated event space accounts indicating event user parameters, event game parameters, and event inventory information for the first user. The user may be provided with event virtual items for purchase wherein the event virtual items are used in the event space during the event period. In response to a determination of the progress of the user associated with one or more event objectives an event award is determined for distribution to the user, wherein the event award may be used within the primary virtual space.
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing dynamic and static contest prize allocation based on in-game achievement of a user in an online game in order to encourage players to continue to purchase items to improve their tournament metrics even if they may be unable to improve their tournament rank. For example, calculation of a dynamic prize may comprise for rank x, the player may gain 1 prize unit for every y Glory gained (when Glory may be the measured by the tournament). The y value may increase for lower ranks achieved in the tournament.
A63F 13/67 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
A63F 13/00 - Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
A63F 13/798 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame
A63F 13/30 - Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game devicesInterconnection arrangements between game servers
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
A63F 13/795 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for finding other playersGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for building a teamGame security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for providing a buddy list
G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising
H04L 67/131 - Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
A system and method for facilitating moving particles in a virtual space use depth information that reflects distances of objects in a virtual space to either a ground level or a viewpoint. The depth information may be stored in a set of information. The system detects collisions of particles and other objects based on the depth information, on a frame-by-frame basis.
A63F 13/573 - Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
G06T 13/60 - 3D [Three Dimensional] animation of natural phenomena, e.g. rain, snow, water or plants
One aspect of the disclosure relates to altering a probability of fulfilling a game objective in a game space. The game objective may be associated with a set of potential reward items, the set of potential reward items including a first item. Probabilities of the first item from the set of potential reward items being provided to individual users as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rates of usage of the game space by the user. The probability of the first user being provided with the first item as a reward for completing the game objective may be determined based on the rate of usage of the game space by the first user.
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
A63F 13/70 - Game security or game management aspects
A63F 13/60 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
G07F 17/32 - Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articlesCoin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
97.
System and method for facilitating a secondary game
Facilitating entry and/or selection of one or more awards associated with a secondary game to increase the probability of obtaining a more desirable award. Access to a secondary game may be selectively provided, to players of an online game, to facilitate player participations in individual episodes of the secondary game. A set of potential awards may be obtained together with a set of award probabilities for the set of potential awards. Entry and/or selection of one or more of the potential awards in the set of potential awards to be removed from or replaced in the set of potential awards to create an adjusted set of potential awards, may be received from the player. A first potential may be selected based on the award probabilities and distributed to the first player for use within the online game.
A shop interface is presented to users in conjunction with presentation of views of an online game, wherein the shop interface is configured to facilitate presentations to users of offers to sell virtual items usable within the game in exchange for consideration. In response to detecting that the online game is systematically unavailable to users, an alternative virtual shop interface is presented to users that is accessed over the Internet separately from the online game, and offers to sell the virtual times usable within the game are presented to users in exchange for less consideration than the offers to sell the virtual items through the shop interface presented in conjunction with the online game.
A63F 13/77 - Game security or game management aspects involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
A63F 13/537 - Controlling the output signals based on the game progress involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
A63F 13/792 - Game security or game management aspects involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
G06Q 30/0235 - Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates constrained by time limit or expiration date
99.
System and method for providing external notifications of events in a virtual space to users
External notifications of events that take place within a virtual space may be provided to users. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), push notification and/or through other external communication media. These external notifications may be generated based on parameters, such as user parameters, event parameters, and/or other parameters. The parameters may include one or more parameters that are dynamic and/or one or more parameters that are static. The notifications may include incentive offers. The incentive offers may include offers of virtual items within the virtual space. The incentive offers may require a response to the notification for redemption. The incentive offers may enhance engagement with the virtual space by users.
A system and method for providing offers to facilitate users to complete active game actions in a game space are disclosed. Offers to forego a group of pending wait periods of active game actions may be generated and presented to the users at the same time or near the same time along with offers to forego these pending wait periods individually and separately. In some examples, for incentivizing the users to accept the offer to forego the group of pending wait periods, a discount may be determined for these offers with respect to the offers to forego the group of pending wait periods individually and separately. In some examples, selection of the group of pending wait periods may be made based on likelihoods as to whether the users will spend stored consideration to forego the group of pending wait periods individually and separately.
A63F 13/45 - Controlling the progress of the video game
A63F 13/69 - Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
