Tiered achievement system

• US 20070173327A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bortnik, Michal, Shen, Alan, O'Kelley, Patrick, Curley, Vincent, Kilgore, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history

Abstract

A game console has the capability to execute programming to unlock an achievement. After the achievements are unlocked, a data store accessible by the game console over a network stores the information in the profile of the user. The achievements associated with the user profiles can be retrieved from the store along with an indicator, that is indicative of a tier level associated with the achievement where the tier indicates a certain performance level associated with unlocking a particular achievement.

Claims

1. In a gaming system, a method of comparing game achievements across multiple contexts, said method comprising:

executing a program on a game console in association with a profile associated with a unique player identity;

storing at least one indicator in said profile wherein said indicator is indicative of an achievement for at least one program played on the game console and storing in association with the indicator indicative of the achievement an indicator that is indicative of a level, wherein said storing is at least partially completed over a network; and

presenting on a display the at least one indicator in said profile indicative of said level of achievement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing over the network comprises communication over an internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the executing of the program comprises the execution of a game.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator indicative of the achievement comprises a graphic.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the graphical indicator indicative of the level comprises a bar graph.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the graphical indicator indicative of the level comprises a number.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing the profile using an internet browser to retrieve and display the indicator that is indicative of a level indicator of the associated achievement.

8. A system for tracking game achievements, comprising:

a game console having the capability to execute programming to unlock an achievement;

a data store accessible by the game console over a network, said data store comprising a plurality of profiles associated with unique user profiles wherein said profiles comprise information related to the achievements of each unique user; and

a memory in communication with the game console storing computer-readable instructions capable of executing on said game console that retrieve from said data store achievements associated with user profiles and indicators of a level of associated with said achievement; and

a memory in communication with the game console storing computer-readable instructions capable of displaying achievements and associated indicators of a level retrieved from said data store.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the network comprises communication over an internet.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the data store is accessible by the game console and is accessible by way of a computer coupled to the internet.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the programming comprises a video game.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the achievement comprises a graphical indicator.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the graphical indicator indicative of the level comprises a bar graph.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the graphical indicator indicative of the level comprises a number.

15. A computer readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions for carrying out the acts comprising:

accessing a data store comprising a plurality of user profiles wherein said profiles comprises information gathered from playing a video game on a game console;

selecting a user profile from said data store;

extracting from said user profile information related to achievements unlocked by the selected user and a level associated with the achievements for at least one video game; and

displaying the achievement and the level associated with the achievement.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15, wherein the achievement comprises a graphical indicator.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the graphical indicator comprises a color associated with a level of achievement.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the graphical indicator indicative of the level comprises one of a number and a bar graph.

19. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 comprising accessing the data store over the internet using a browser.

20. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 comprising accessing the data store via the game console.