Purchasable tournament multipliers

• US 10,195,532 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: McLellan, Sam, Pieron, Luc, Schultz, Stephanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US15/497,962
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list

Abstract

A system and method configured to enhance gameplay between users in an online game. In some implementations, the system and method include executing an instance of an online game and determining the value of a gameplay parameter for a user reflecting progress by that user within the online game. The system and method includes conducting an event in the online game that takes place during an event time period and determining, for individual users, values of an event parameter based on changes in the values of the gameplay parameter determined for users during the event time period and determining relative positions of users based on respective values of the event parameter and distributing awards based thereon. Users are further presented with offers to sell virtual items usable in the online game where the offers include an offer to sell virtual items, wherein the virtual items are usable by a user to enhance the value of an event parameter such that a scoring multiplier is applied to the determination of the value of the event parameter based on change in the value of the gameplay parameter subsequent to the use of the virtual item.

Claims

1. A system for promoting enhanced gameplay between users in a virtual space, the system comprising:

one or more physical computer processors configured by non-transitory machine-readable instructions to;

execute an instance of an online game, and to use the instance of the online game to facilitate participation by users in the online game via client computing devices, wherein the online game facilitates interaction between game entities associated with and/or controlled by individual users in the online game and/or interaction between game entities and the online game environment;

determine, for the individual users, values of a gameplay parameter that reflects progress within the online game such that a first value of the gameplay parameter is determined for a first user and reflects progress of the first user within the online game;

conduct an event in the online game that takes place during an event time period, wherein conducting the event includes;

determining, for the individual users, values of an event parameter based on changes in the values of the gameplay parameter determined for the individual users during the event time period such that a first value of the event parameter is determined for the first user based on change in the first value of the gameplay parameter during the event time period; and

determining relative positions of the users based on the values of the event parameter;

distribute awards to the users subsequent to the event based on the relative positions of the users at the end of the event time period, the awards including virtual items usable in the online game; and

effectuate presentation to the users of offers to sell virtual items usable in the online game to the users, the offers including a first offer to sell a first virtual item, wherein the first virtual item is usable by the first user to enhance the first value of the event parameter such that a parameter enhancement is applied to the determination of the first value of the event parameter based on a change in the first value of the gameplay parameter subsequent to use of the first virtual item.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said online game is implemented in connection with non-tournament gameplay.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said parameter enhancement comprises a multiplier applying only to changes in the first value of the gameplay parameter caused by a specific subset of events that result in changes in the first value of the gameplay parameter.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said specific subset of events comprise training of a subset of troops that can be trained by the first user in the online game.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said gameplay parameter comprises one or more of might, valor, reputation, or experience points.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said parameter enhancement comprises a temporal multiplier applying to scores achieved only during a limited period of gameplay.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said parameter enhancement comprises a multiplier which applies varying multiples dependent upon said relative positions of said users.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said applied multiple decreases as the value of said event parameter for said first user'"'"'s position converges to the value of an event parameter for a leading user.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said parameter enhancement is a scoring multiplier.

10. A method of promoting enhanced gameplay between users in a virtual space, the method comprising:

executing an instance of an online game, and using the instance of the online game to facilitate participation by users in the online game via client computing devices wherein the online game facilitates interactions between game entities associated with and/or controlled by individual users in the online game and/or interaction between game entities and the online game environment;

determining, for the individual users, values of a gameplay parameter that reflects progress within the online game such that a first value of the gameplay parameter is determined for a first user and reflects progress of the first user within the online game;

conducting an event in the online game that takes place during an event time period, wherein conducting the event includes;

determining, for the individual users, values of an event parameter based on changes in the values of the gameplay parameter determined for the individual users during the event time period such that a first value of the event parameter is determined for the first user based on change in the first value of the gameplay parameter during the event time period; and

determining relative positions of the users based on the values of the event parameter;

distributing awards to the users subsequent to the event based on the relative positions of the users at the end of the event time period, the awards including virtual items usable in the online game; and

presenting offers to sell virtual items usable in the online game to the users, the offers including a first offer to sell a first virtual item, wherein the first virtual item is usable by the first user to enhance the first value of the event parameter such that a parameter enhancement is applied to the determination of the first value of the event parameter based on a change in the first value of the gameplay parameter subsequent to use of the first virtual item.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said online game is implemented in connection with non-tournament gameplay.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said parameter enhancement comprises a multiplier applying only to changes in the first value of the gameplay parameter caused by a specific subset of events that result in changes in the first value of the gameplay parameter.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said specific subset of events comprise training of a subset of troops that can be trained by the first user in the online game.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said gameplay parameter comprises one or more of might, valor, reputation, or experience points.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said parameter enhancement comprises a temporal multiplier applying to scores achieved only during a limited period of gameplay.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said parameter enhancement comprises a multiplier which applies varying multiples dependent upon said relative positions of said users.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said applied multiple decreases as the value of said event parameter for said first user'"'"'s position converges to the value of an event parameter for a leading user.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein said parameter enhancement is a scoring multiplier.