Providing virtual containers across online games

• US 10,398,984 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, John, Chanthasiriphan, Kevin, Lee, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US15/786,305
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• 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

Abstract

System and method for providing cross-game virtual containers in online games are disclosed. Virtual items usable in multiple online games may be packaged in a cross-game virtual container. Instances of cross-game virtual container may be presented for purchase by user in a virtual store. The price of a given instance of cross-game virtual container may be set as a fraction of the total of the individual prices of the virtual items in the given instance of cross-game virtual container. After an activation of a purchased instance of cross-game virtual container by a user in one of the online games, virtual items in the purchased instance of cross-game virtual container may be made available for access to the user in respective online games. In some examples, a notification may be generated for informing the user of the availability of the virtual items in the activated instance of cross-game virtual container.

Claims

1. A first game server for facilitating cross-game virtual containers in multiple online games including a first online game and a second online game, a system comprising:

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

host, by the one or more physical processors of the first game server, the first online game, the first online game being associated with a first game space in which the first online game is played;

present, in the first online game, offers to sell instances of cross-game virtual containers in exchange for consideration from users of the first online game, individual ones of the instances of the cross-game virtual containers including virtual items usable in a second online game associated with a second game space in which the second online game is played, the second game space being separate and discrete from the first game space, wherein the second online game is hosted by a second game server that is separate and distinct from the first game server, the offers presented including a first offer of a first instance of a first cross-game virtual container including a second virtual item usable in the second online game; and

receive activation requests from users for activating purchased instances of cross-game virtual containers purchased by the users in the first online game and responsive to such activation requests, make the virtual items in the purchased instances of the cross-game virtual containers available for access to the users such that responsive to a first activation request from a first user for activating the first instance of the first cross-game virtual container, the second virtual item is made available for access to the first user in the second online game hosted by the second game server, wherein the second virtual item is distributed to a virtual inventory associated with the first user in the second online game and is made available for use by the first user within the second online game for a time period after the first activation request, wherein the time period is determined based on usage characteristics of the second online game.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the offers presented in the first online game further include a second offer to sell an instance of a first virtual item at a first price, and a third offer to sell an instance of the second virtual item at a second price.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first offer to sell the instance of the first cross-game virtual container is presented in the first online game at a third price that is a fraction of a total of the first price and the second price.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the third price is equal to or nearly equal to the first or the second price.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured to, responsive to the first activation request, generate a notification for presentation to the first user in the first online game that the second virtual item has become available for access to the first user in the second online game.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured to, responsive to the first activation request, generate a notification for presentation to the first user in the first online game that the second virtual item is available for access to the first user in the second online game for the time period.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the notification generated includes information facilitating the first user to access the second online game.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second virtual item included in the first instance of the first cross-game virtual container is a mystery item from a set of potential items associated with the first cross-game virtual container, individual ones of the set of potential items being usable in one or more online games other than the first online game, and wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured to, responsive to the first activation request, select the second virtual item from the set of the potential items associated with the first cross-game virtual container in accordance with a selection probability.

9. A method for facilitating cross-game virtual containers in multiple online games including a first online game and a second online game, the method being implemented in one or more physical processors configured to execute computer programs, the method comprising:

hosting, by a first game server, the first online game, the first online game being associated with a first game space in which the first online game is played;

presenting, in the first online game, offers to sell instances of cross-game virtual containers in exchange for consideration from users of the first online game, individual ones of the instances of the cross-game virtual containers including virtual items usable in a second online game associated with a second game space in which the second online game is played, the second game space being separate and discrete from the first game space, wherein the second online game is hosted by a second game server that is separate and distinct from the first game server, the offers presented including a first offer of a first instance of a first cross-game virtual container including a second virtual item usable in the second online game; and

receiving activation requests from users for activating purchased instances of cross-game virtual containers purchased by the users in the first online game and responsive to such activation requests, make the virtual items in the purchased instances of the cross-game virtual containers available for access to the users such that responsive to a first activation request from a first user for activating the first instance of the first cross-game virtual container, the second virtual item is made available for access to the first user in the second online game hosted by the second game server, wherein the second virtual item is distributed to a virtual inventory associated with the first user in the second online game and is made available for use by the first user within the second online game for a time period after the first activation request, wherein the time period is determined based on usage characteristics of the second online game.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the offers presented in the first online game further include a second offer to sell an instance of a first virtual item at a first price, and a third offer to sell an instance of the second virtual item at a second price.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first offer to sell the instance of the first cross-game virtual container is presented in the first online game at a third price that is a fraction of a total of the first price and the second price.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third price is equal to or nearly equal to the first or the second price.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, responsive to the first activation request, generating a notification for presentation to the first user in the first online game that the second virtual item has become available for access to the first user in the second online game.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising, responsive to the first activation request, generating a notification for presentation to the first user in the first online game that the second virtual item is available for access to the first user in the second online game for the time period.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the notification generated includes information facilitating the first user to access the second online game.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the second virtual item included in the first instance of the first cross-game virtual container is a mystery item from a set of potential items associated with the cross-game virtual container, individual ones of the set of potential items being usable in one or more online games other than the first online game, and wherein the method further comprises responsive to the first activation request, selecting the second virtual item from the set of the potential items associated with the first cross-game virtual container in accordance with a selection probability.