Incentivizing users to alter virtual item balances in an online game
First Claim
1. A system for incentivizing users to alter virtual item balances in user inventories in a game space, the system comprisingone or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:
- execute a game instance of a game space, and to implement the game instance of the game space to effectuate transmission of information over a network to client computing platforms associated with users that causes the client computing platforms associated with the users to present views of the game space to the users, and to enable interaction of the users with the game space and/or each other by performing operations in the game space in response to commands received over the network from the client computing platforms associated with the users;
manage user inventories of virtual items associated with individual ones of the users and the game space, the user inventories indicating balances of a first virtual item usable in the game space associated with the individual ones of the users such that a first user inventory indicates a balance of a first virtual item associated with a first user;
enable users to spend virtual currencies within the game space in exchange for virtual items usable in the game space;
obtain current balances of the virtual items indicated by the user inventories, the current balances including first current balances of the first virtual item indicated by the user inventories associated with the individual ones of the users;
dynamically determine, based on the current balances of the virtual items obtained, balance goals for users to reach increased target balances of virtual items in the user inventories, the balance goals including a first balance goal specifying an increased target balance of the first virtual item to be reached in the first user inventory such that the increased target balance specified by the first balance goal is higher than a first current balance of the first virtual item indicated by the first user inventory;
review the balance of the first virtual item in the first user inventory and determine whether the first user has reached the increased target balance of the first virtual item in accordance with the first balance goal determined; and
distribute a reward to the first user inventory associated with the first user and the game space responsive to a determination that the first user has reached the increased target balance of the first virtual item in the first user inventory in accordance with the first balance goal wherein the reward is distributed to the first user irrespective of an achievement within the game by the first user and distribution of the reward causes the first user inventory to update to include the reward without depleting the first user inventory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for incentivizing users to alter virtual item balances in an online game are disclosed. The incentives may include rewards for users to reach balance goals. The balance goals may specify target balances of virtual items to be reached in user inventories, and a time by which such target balances must be reached in order for the users to receive a reward. Such target balance may include minimum or maximum balances levels, a range of absolute balance levels, a change in the current balance levels of virtual items in the user inventories and/or any other target balances. Determinations whether a given user has reached such target balance in accordance with a balance goal may be made at or before the time specified in the balance goal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for incentivizing users to alter virtual item balances in user inventories in a game space, the system comprising
one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: -
execute a game instance of a game space, and to implement the game instance of the game space to effectuate transmission of information over a network to client computing platforms associated with users that causes the client computing platforms associated with the users to present views of the game space to the users, and to enable interaction of the users with the game space and/or each other by performing operations in the game space in response to commands received over the network from the client computing platforms associated with the users; manage user inventories of virtual items associated with individual ones of the users and the game space, the user inventories indicating balances of a first virtual item usable in the game space associated with the individual ones of the users such that a first user inventory indicates a balance of a first virtual item associated with a first user; enable users to spend virtual currencies within the game space in exchange for virtual items usable in the game space; obtain current balances of the virtual items indicated by the user inventories, the current balances including first current balances of the first virtual item indicated by the user inventories associated with the individual ones of the users; dynamically determine, based on the current balances of the virtual items obtained, balance goals for users to reach increased target balances of virtual items in the user inventories, the balance goals including a first balance goal specifying an increased target balance of the first virtual item to be reached in the first user inventory such that the increased target balance specified by the first balance goal is higher than a first current balance of the first virtual item indicated by the first user inventory; review the balance of the first virtual item in the first user inventory and determine whether the first user has reached the increased target balance of the first virtual item in accordance with the first balance goal determined; and distribute a reward to the first user inventory associated with the first user and the game space responsive to a determination that the first user has reached the increased target balance of the first virtual item in the first user inventory in accordance with the first balance goal wherein the reward is distributed to the first user irrespective of an achievement within the game by the first user and distribution of the reward causes the first user inventory to update to include the reward without depleting the first user inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for incentivizing users to alter virtual item balances in user inventories in a game space, the method being implemented in one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:
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executing a game instance of a game space, and implementing the game instance of the game space to effectuate transmission of information over a network to client computing platforms associated with users that causes the client computing platforms associated with the users to present views of the game space to the users, and to enable interaction of the users with the game space and/or each other by performing operations in the game space in response to commands received over the network from the client computing platforms associated with the users; managing user inventories of virtual items associated with individual ones of the users and the game space, the user inventories indicating balances of a first virtual item usable in the game space associated with the individual ones of the users such that a first user inventory indicates a balance of a first virtual item associated with a first user; obtaining current balances of the virtual items indicated by the user inventories, the current balances including first current balances of the first virtual item indicated by the user inventories associated with the individual ones of the users; dynamically determining, based on the current balances of the virtual items obtained, balance goals for users to reach increased target balances of virtual items in the user inventories, the balance goals including a first balance goal specifying an increased target balance of the first virtual item to be reached in the first user inventory such that the increased target balance specified by the first balance goal is higher than a first current balance of the first virtual item indicated by the first user inventory; reviewing the balance of the first virtual item in the first user inventory and determine whether the first user has reached the increased target balance of the first virtual item in accordance with the first balance goal determined; and distributing a reward to the first user inventory associated with the first user and the game space responsive to determining that the first user has reached the increased target balance of the first virtual item in the first user inventory in accordance with the first balance goal wherein the reward is distributed to the first user irrespective of an achievement within the game by the first user and distribution of the reward causes the first user inventory to update to include the reward without depleting the first user inventory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification