MULTI-TIER ONLINE GAME PLAY

• US 20080242421A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Geisner, Kevin, Chew, Chee, Royal, Andrew, Sleeman, Martin, SanFilippo, Rob
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,917 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 13/537 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 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

Abstract

Online multiplayer games are provided in multiple tiers. A first tier offers limited features and a second tier offers first tier features plus additional features. The additional features are exclusive to the second tier. During game play in the first tier, enticements are provided to participate in the second tier. The first tier requires no subscription to participate therein. Participation in the second tier requires a subscription. In an example configuration, the first tier allows players to host a game on a dedicated server, browse a list of dedicated server games, and join a game from a list of first tier eligible games. And, the second tier offers a variety of additional features, such as the ability to invite other players to join a game session, match making services, and cross-platform game play.

Claims

1. A multi-tier online game playing method comprising:

providing a first tier of online game playing comprising;

a first set of online game playing features; and

at least one enticement to participate in a second tier of online game playing; and

providing, to subscribers thereof, the second tier of online game playing, wherein;

the second tier of online game playing comprises the first set of online game playing features and at least one exclusive online game playing feature; and

the at least one exclusive online game playing feature is not available in the first tier of online game playing.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a subscription fee is charged to participate in the second tier; and

no subscription fee is charged to participate in the first tier.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one enticement comprises an indication of at least one of the at least one exclusive online game playing feature.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first set of online game playing features comprises:

providing an ability to host, on a dedicated processor, a multiplayer online game session;

providing an ability to browse a list of dedicated processor hosted multiplayer online game sessions; and

providing an ability to join a multiplayer online game session, wherein;

at least one restriction to joining a multiplayer online game session is imposed on game players participating in the first tier; and

the at least one restriction to joining a multiplayer online game session is not imposed on game players participating in the second tier.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the at least one restriction comprises allowing less than a maximum number of players to participate in a multiplayer online game session.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one exclusive online game playing feature comprises at least one of:

providing an invitation to play a game;

providing voice communication between players during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an ability to participate in multiplayer online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier; and

providing an ability to participate in multiplayer online game sessions utilizing a combination of a dedicated game console, a general purpose processor, and a mobile device.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one exclusive online game playing feature comprises at least one of:

providing an indication of achievements earned during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an indication of scores earned by players during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an indication of rank among players of a multiplayer online game session;

provide an ability to invite players to participate in a multiplayer online game session;

provide an ability to accept an invitation to participate in a multiplayer online game session;

provide an indication of characteristics of multiplayer online game sessions; and

provide an indication of characteristics of online game players.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, the at least one enticement comprises at least one of:

providing an ability to hear players participating in a multiplayer online game session and preventing an ability to be heard by players participating in a multiplayer online game session;

providing, to non-subscribers of the second tier, an indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier, wherein the indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier is emphasized to indicate that participation therein is limited to only subscribers of the second tier, and providing, without the emphasis, to subscribers of the second tier, the indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier;

providing, to non-subscribers of the second tier, an indication of multiplayer game sessions having less than a maximum number of players participating therein, wherein the indication of multiplayer game sessions having less than a maximum number of players participating therein is emphasized to indicate that participation by additional players is limited to subscribers of the second tier;

providing to a non-subscriber of the second tier participant of a multiplayer online game session, upon completion thereof, an indication of achievements that could have been earned during participation thereof, and

providing to a non-subscriber of the second tier participant of a multiplayer online game session, upon completion thereof, an indication of a score that could have been earned during participation thereof.

20. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 1, the at least one enticement comprises at least one of:

providing an ability to hear players participating in a multiplayer online game session and preventing an ability to be heard by players participating in a multiplayer online game session;

providing, to non-subscribers of the second tier, an indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier, wherein the indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier is emphasized to indicate that participation therein is limited to only subscribers of the second tier, and providing, without the emphasis, to subscribers of the second tier, the indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier;

providing, to non-subscribers of the second tier, an indication of multiplayer game sessions having less than a maximum number of players participating therein, wherein the indication of multiplayer game sessions having less than a maximum number of players participating therein is emphasized to indicate that participation by additional players is limited to subscribers of the second tier;

providing to a non-subscriber of the second tier participant of a multiplayer online game session, upon completion thereof, an indication of achievements that could have been earned during participation thereof; and

providing to a non-subscriber of the second tier participant of a multiplayer online game session, upon completion thereof, an indication of a score that could have been earned during participation thereof.

9. A multi-tier online game playing system configured to provide a first tier of online game playing and a second tier of online game playing, wherein:

the first tier comprises;

a first set of online game playing features; and

at least one enticement to participate in the second tier of online game playing; and

the second tier is available to subscribers thereof;

the second tier comprises the first set of online game playing features and at least one exclusive online game playing feature; and

the at least one exclusive online game playing feature is not available in the first tier of online game playing.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

a subscription fee is charged to participate in the second tier; and

no subscription fee is charged to participate in the first tier.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein at least one of the at least one enticement comprises an indication of at least one of the at least one exclusive online game playing feature.

12. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first set of online game playing features comprises:

providing an ability to host, on a dedicated processor, a multiplayer online game session;

providing an ability to browse a list of dedicated processor hosted multiplayer online game sessions; and

providing an ability to join a multiplayer online game session, wherein;

at least one restriction to joining a multiplayer online game session is imposed on game players participating in the first tier; and

the at least one restriction to joining a multiplayer online game session is not imposed on game players participating in the second tier.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one restriction comprises allowing less than a maximum number of players to participate in a multiplayer online game session.

14. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one exclusive online game playing feature comprises at least one of:

providing an invitation to play a game;

providing voice communication between players during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an ability to participate in multiplayer online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier; and

providing an ability to participate in multiplayer online game sessions utilizing a combination of a dedicated game console, a general purpose processor, and a mobile device.

15. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one exclusive online game playing feature comprises at least one of:

providing an indication of achievements earned during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an indication of scores earned by players during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an indication of rank among players of a multiplayer online game session;

provide an ability to invite players to participate in a multiplayer online game session;

provide an ability to accept an invitation to participate in a multiplayer online game session;

provide an indication of characteristics of multiplayer online game sessions; and

provide an indication of characteristics of online game players.

16. A system in accordance with claim 9, the at least one enticement comprises at least one of:

providing an ability to hear players participating in a multiplayer online game session and preventing an ability to be heard by players participating in a multiplayer online game session;

providing, to non-subscribers of the second tier, an indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier, wherein the indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier is emphasized to indicate that participation therein is limited to only subscribers of the second tier, and providing, without the emphasis, to subscribers of the second tier, the indication of online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier;

providing, to non-subscribers of the second tier, an indication of multiplayer game sessions having less than a maximum number of players participating therein, wherein the indication of multiplayer game sessions having less than a maximum number of players participating therein is emphasized to indicate that participation by additional players is limited to subscribers of the second tier;

providing to a non-subscriber of the second tier participant of a multiplayer online game session, upon completion thereof, an indication of achievements that could have been earned during participation thereof; and

providing to a non-subscriber of the second tier participant of a multiplayer online game session, upon completion thereof, an indication of a score that could have been earned during participation thereof.

17. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instruction for providing multi-tier online game play by performing the steps of:

providing a first tier of online game playing comprising a first set of online game playing features and at least one enticement to participate in a second tier of online game playing, wherein, no subscription fee is charged to participate in the first tier; and

providing, to subscribers thereof, the second tier of online game playing, wherein;

the second tier of online game playing comprises the first set of online game playing features and at least one exclusive online game playing feature;

the at least one exclusive online game playing feature is not available in the first tier of online game playing

a subscription fee is charged to participate in the second tier;

at least one of the at least one enticement comprises an indication of at least one of the at least one exclusive online game playing feature

18. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 17, wherein the first set of online game playing features comprises at least one of:

providing an ability to host, on a dedicated processor, a multiplayer online game session;

providing an ability to browse a list of dedicated processor hosted multiplayer online game sessions; and

providing an ability to join a multiplayer online game session, wherein;

at least one restriction to joining a multiplayer online game session is imposed on game players participating in the first tier; and

the at least one restriction to joining a multiplayer online game session is not imposed on game players participating in the second tier.

19. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 17, wherein the at least one exclusive online game playing feature comprises at least one of:

providing an invitation to play a game;

providing voice communication between players during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an ability to participate in multiplayer online game sessions restricted to only subscribers of the second tier;

providing an ability to participate in multiplayer online game sessions utilizing a combination of a dedicated game console, a general purpose processor, and a mobile device;

providing an indication of achievements earned during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an indication of scores earned by players during a multiplayer online game session;

providing an indication of rank among players of a multiplayer online game session;

provide an ability to invite players to participate in a multiplayer online game session;

provide an ability to accept an invitation to participate in a multiplayer online game session;

provide an indication of characteristics of multiplayer online game sessions; and

provide an indication of characteristics of online game players.