VIDEO GAME TITLE PROFILE AWARDS

• US 20090198741A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, Ryan B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/69 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 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

Techniques for recognizing the accomplishments of a game player are disclosed herein. In particular, a user identification profile is provided so that digital items awarded to the user for meeting specified performance criteria in a video game or some other event may be associated with such user identification profile. The digital item may be something that is usable within the current video game title, in a later version or the next generation of a particular video game title, or even in a different video game by the same developer. One technique involves receiving an identification representative of the digital item awarded to the user, associating the digital item with the user identification profile corresponding to the user, and storing an indication that the digital item is associated with the user identification profile. In this way, the indication may be utilized to display the digital item in the user identification profile.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a process comprising:

receiving an identification of a digital item awarded to a user;

associating the digital item with a user identification profile corresponding to the user; and

,

storing an indication that the digital item is associated with the user identification profile.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user for an accomplishment in a video game.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the digital item is usable in a video game.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user as part of a video game while the user is playing the video game.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user by an earlier version of a video game and is usable in a later version of the video game.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user by a first video game and is usable in a second video game that is different from the first video game.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises displaying the digital item in a user identification profile corresponding to the user.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the digital item is an article of apparel.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the digital item is displayed on an avatar of the user in a user identification profile.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a process comprising:

receiving a request to display a user identification profile corresponding to a first user;

retrieving user identification profile information corresponding to the first user, the user identification profile information comprising at least one digital item awarded to the user; and

displaying the digital profile information comprising the at least one digital item awarded to the user in the user identification profile.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is an article of apparel.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the digital item is displayed over an avatar of the user in the user identification profile.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user for an accomplishment in a video game.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is usable in a video game.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user as part of a video game while the user is playing the video game.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user by an earlier version of a video game and is usable in a later version of the video game.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is awarded to the user by a first video game and is usable in a second video game that is different from the first video game.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the digital item is a digital good.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the digital good is a weapon.