ONLINE SIMULATIONS AND NETWORK APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of advertising a product or service, the method comprising:
- a. displaying an advertisement for a product or service in a video game, the video game including one or more player characters operable by one or more users;
b. receiving a response from a user about the advertisement;
c. in response to the received response, modifying an attribute of a player character associated with the user, the modification relating to the advertisement, or allowing the player character to access a virtual item relating to the advertisement.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided that involve a player to a significant degree with an advertisement and its accompanying product or service. One setting of the system and method may be a network application that is adjunct to an online simulation such as an MMO game. The system and method may be implemented in either or both, or in video games that are embodied in just one of these. The system and method provide a convenient way to tie advertising to game content. By use of advertisements, the user (through the player character) can become aware of and can access in-game items, player character attribute modifications, and rewards. Such advertisements may be banner advertisements or any other type of advertising. By taking advantage of the offers presented in the advertisements, a user of the network application may obtain items for their own use or for that of a corresponding MMO character.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of advertising a product or service, the method comprising:
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a. displaying an advertisement for a product or service in a video game, the video game including one or more player characters operable by one or more users; b. receiving a response from a user about the advertisement; c. in response to the received response, modifying an attribute of a player character associated with the user, the modification relating to the advertisement, or allowing the player character to access a virtual item relating to the advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of advertising a product or service, the method comprising:
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a. displaying an advertisement for a product or service; b. receiving a response from a player about the advertisement; c. in response to the receiving, modifying an attribute of a player character in a video game or allowing a player character to access a virtual item in a video game, the video game including one or more player characters operable by one or more users. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a processor in an electronic device to perform a method of advertising a product or service, the method comprising:
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a. displaying an entry form on a user interface for a video game, the video game including a representation of a third party product or service; b. receiving a code entered by a user in the entry form; c. in response to the received code, modifying an attribute of a player character in a video game or allowing a player character to access a virtual item in a video game, the attribute modification or virtual item associated with the third party product or service, the video game including one or more player characters operable by one or more users. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A system for providing an item to a player character associated with a user of a multiplayer game implemented on a network application server, comprising:
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a. an advertisement receiver module to receive an advertisement from an advertising server; b. a user interface module to display the advertisement; c. an advertisement item provider module to, upon user activation of the advertisement, make accessible a corresponding item to a player character associated with the user.
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18. A system for providing an item to a player character associated with a user of a multiplayer game implemented on a network application server, comprising:
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a. a user interface module to display an item or attribute modification on a first player character; b. an advertisement item provider module to, upon user activation of the item or attribute modification, make accessible a corresponding item or attribute modification to a second player character, the second player character associated with the user. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification