SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MULTI-PRIZE MYSTERY BOX THAT DYNAMICALLY CHANGES PROBABILITIES TO ENSURE PAYOUT VALUE

• US 20150031440A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Ernst, Tim, Hawk, Travis, DESANTI, Brian, Mendoza, Rick, Im, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,737,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a multi-prize mystery box that dynamically changes probabilities to ensure payout value in an online game. The multi-prize mystery box which dynamically changes probabilities may provide the ability to arrange multiple items in a mystery box. The probability of acquiring an instance of the second item through Nth item may be dynamically weighted based on the value of the first item.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating pricing of virtual containers, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a game module configured to execute a game instance of a game space, and to facilitate presentation of views of the game space to users 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 from the users;

a store module configured to present, through a store interface, offers to sell container instances of virtual containers, the offers including a first offer to sell an instance of a first virtual container at a first price, the virtual containers being associated with sets of potential items such that the first virtual container is associated with a first set of potential items, the first set of potential items including a first potential item and a second potential item;

a probability module configured to obtain probabilities associated with the individual potential virtual items for container instances of the virtual containers purchased by the users such that the probability module obtains a first probability for the first potential item for a first container instance of the first virtual container purchased by a first user and a second probability for the second potential item for the first container instance purchased by the first user; and

a distribution determination module configured to receive activation requests from users for container instances purchased by the users and, responsive to the activation requests, determine which potential items should be distributed to the users within the game space through the container instances based on the probabilities obtained by the probability module such that the distribution determination module determines which potential item in the first set of potential items should be distributed to the first user through the first container instance in response to an activation request from the first user for the first container instance, the determination of which potential item in the first set of potential items being based on the probabilities for the potential items in the first set of potential items for the first container instance obtained by the probability module, and

wherein the probability module is further configured such that obtaining the probabilities for the first set of potential items for the first container instance comprises adjusting the probabilities based on past distributions through the first container instance such that responsive to an item instance of the first potential item being distributed through the first container instance to the first user, the probability for the second potential item for the first container instance is adjusted based on a value of the first potential item and a value of the second potential item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the probability module is configured such that the value of the second item is determined based on a cost of the second item.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the probability module is configured such that the value of the second item is determined based on a rareness of the second item.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the probability module is configured such that the value of the second item is determined based on a utility of the second item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the probability module is configured to adjust the probabilities for the items in the first set of potential items to enhance the likelihood that an aggregate value of the items distributed by the first container instance will surpass a minimum aggregate value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the probability module is configured such that the minimum aggregate value is determined based on the first price.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the probability module is configured such that the minimum aggregate value is the first price.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to the value of the first potential item being high in relation to the values of the other potential items in the first set of potential items, responsive to the value of the second potential item being low in relation to the values of the other potential items in the first set of potential items, and further responsive to distribution of an item instance of the second potential item through the first container instance, the probability for the first potential item is adjusted higher to enhance the likelihood that the first container instance will distribute an item instance of the first potential item to enhance an aggregate value of the items distributed by the first container instance.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the probability module is configured to adjust probabilities for the items in the first set of potential items to enhance the likelihood that an aggregate value of the items distributed by the first container instance will not surpass a maximum aggregate value.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the probability module is configured such that the maximum aggregate value is determined based on the first price.

11. A computer implemented method for facilitating pricing of virtual containers, the system comprising:

executing an instance of a game space, and implementing the instance of the game space to facilitate participation by the users in an online game that takes place in the game space, wherein facilitating interaction of the users with the game space and/or each other by performing operations in the game space in response to commands received from the users;

presenting, through a store interface, offers to sell container instances of virtual containers, the offers including a first offer to sell an instance of a first virtual container at a first price, the virtual containers being associated with sets of potential items such that the first virtual container is associated with a first set of potential items, the first set of potential items including a first potential item and a second potential item;

obtaining probabilities associated with the individual potential virtual items for container instances of the virtual containers purchased by the users such that the obtaining a first probability for the first potential item for a first container instance of the first virtual container purchased by a first user and a second probability for the second potential item for the first container instance purchased by the first user; and

receiving activation requests from users for container instances purchased by the users and, responsive to the activation requests, determine which potential items should be distributed to the users within the game space through the container instances based on the probabilities obtained such that determining which potential item in the first set of potential items should be distributed to the first user through the first container instance in response to an activation request from the first user for the first container instance, the determination of which potential item in the first set of potential items being based on the probabilities for the potential items in the first set of potential items for the first container instance as obtained, and

wherein obtaining the probabilities for the first set of potential items for the first container instance comprises adjusting the probabilities based on past distributions through the first container instance such that responsive to an item instance of the first potential item being distributed through the first container instance to the first user, the probability for the second potential item for the first container instance is adjusted based on a value of the first potential item and a value of the second potential item.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the value of the second item is determined based on a cost of the second item.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the value of the second item is determined based on a rareness of the second item.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the value of the second item is determined based on a utility of the second item.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the probabilities for the items in the first set of potential items to enhance the likelihood that an aggregate value of the items distributed by the first container instance will surpass a minimum aggregate value.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein, responsive to the value of the first potential item being high in relation to the values of the other potential items in the first set of potential items, responsive to the value of the second potential item being low in relation to the values of the other potential items in the first set of potential items, and further responsive to distribution of an item instance of the second potential item through the first container instance, the probability for the first potential item is adjusted higher to enhance the likelihood that the first container instance will distribute an item instance of the first potential item to enhance an aggregate value of the items distributed by the first container instance.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting probabilities for the items in the first set of potential items to enhance the likelihood that an aggregate value of the items distributed by the first container instance will not surpass a maximum aggregate value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the maximum aggregate value is determined based on the first price.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum aggregate value is determined based on the first price.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum aggregate value is the first price.