SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRIVING MICROTRANSACTIONS IN MULTIPLAYER VIDEO GAMES

• US 20160005270A1
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Keith S., Marr, Michael D., Lewis, Nathan T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,789,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A system and method is provided that drives microtransactions in multiplayer video games. The system may include a microtransaction arrange matches to influence game-related purchases. For instance, the system may match a more expert/marquee player with a junior player to encourage the junior player to make game-related purchases of items possessed/used by the marquee player. A junior player may wish to emulate the marquee player by obtaining weapons or other items used by the marquee player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of driving microtransactions in a multi-player game, the method being implemented by a host computer having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer to perform the method, the method comprising:

identifying, by the host computer, an in-game item that is relevant to a first player, but not yet possessed by the first player for gameplay in a multi-player game;

identifying, by the host computer, a second player that possesses the in-game item; and

matching, by the host computer, the first player and the second player to play in a gameplay session to encourage purchase of the in-game item by the first player, wherein the matching is based on;

(i) the relevance of the in-game item to the first player, and (ii) the possession of the in-game item by the second player.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining, by the host computer, that the first player has purchased the in-game item in relation to the gameplay session;

determining, by the host computer, a subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item; and

matching, by the host computer, the first player to play in the subsequent gameplay session to encourage future purchases.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the subsequent gameplay session is associated with a particular type of game, and wherein determining the subsequent gameplay session comprises:

determining a quality of gameplay associated with use of the in-game item during the particular type of game based on one or more historical gameplay sessions, wherein the subsequent gameplay session is determined based on the quality of gameplay such that an expected quality of gameplay for the first player during the subsequent gameplay session is expected to encourage future purchases by the first player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the in-game item that is relevant to the first player comprises:

obtaining a player profile associated with the first player, wherein the player profile comprises a player preference that is used to determine that the first player would be interested in the in-game item.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the player preference comprises an express preference provided by the first player or a derived preference that is determined based on a gameplay history of the first player.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the player preference relates to a player role that the first player prefers to play, and wherein the in-game item relates to the player role.

7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

determining that the second player has achieved a skill level in association with the player role, wherein the second player is identified based further on the skill level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the in-game item is identified based further on a promotion to sell the in-game item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first player is associated with a first skill level and the second player is associated with a second skill level that indicates a higher degree of skill than the first skill level, and wherein the second player is identified based further on a difference between the first skill level and the second skill level.

10. A system for driving microtransactions in a multi-player game, the system comprising:

a host computer having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer to;

identify an in-game item that is relevant to a first player, but not yet possessed by the first player for gameplay in a multi-player game;

identify a second player that possesses the in-game item; and

match the first player and the second player to play in a gameplay session to encourage purchase of the in-game item by the first player, wherein the matching is based on;

(i) the relevance of the in-game item to the first player, and (ii) the possession of the in-game item by the second player.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

determine that the first player has purchased the in-game item in relation to the gameplay session;

determine a subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item; and

match the first player to play in the subsequent gameplay session to encourage future purchases.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein to identify the in-game item that is relevant to the first player, the host computer is programmed to:

obtain a player profile associated with the first player, wherein the player profile comprises a player preference that is used to determine that the first player would be interested in the in-game item.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the player preference comprises an express preference provided by the first player or a derived preference that is determined based on a gameplay history of the first player.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the player preference relates to a player role that the first player prefers to play, and wherein the in-game item relates to the player role.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

determine that the second player has achieved a skill level in association with the player role, wherein the second player is identified based further on the skill level.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the in-game item is identified based further on a promotion to sell the in-game item.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the first player is associated with a first skill level and the second player is associated with a second skill level that indicates a higher degree of skill than the first skill level, and wherein the second player is identified based further on a difference between the first skill level and the second skill level.

12. The system of claim 12, wherein the subsequent gameplay session is associated with a particular type of game, and wherein to determine the subsequent gameplay session, the host computer is further programmed to:

determine a quality of gameplay associated with use of the in-game item during the particular type of game based on one or more historical gameplay sessions, wherein the subsequent gameplay session is determined based on the quality of gameplay such that an expected quality of gameplay for the first player during the subsequent gameplay session is expected to encourage future purchases by the first player.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for driving microtransactions in a multi-player game, the computer program instructions, when executed by one or more physical processors of a host computer, cause the host computer to:

identify an in-game item that is relevant to a first player, but not yet possessed by the first player for gameplay in a multi-player game;

identify a second player that possesses the in-game item; and

match the first player and the second player to play in a gameplay session to encourage purchase of the in-game item by the first player, wherein the matching is based on;

(i) the relevance of the in-game item to the first player, and (ii) the possession of the in-game item by the second player.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer program instructions further program the host computer to:

determine that the first player has purchased the in-game item in relation to the gameplay session;

determine a subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item; and

match the first player to play in the subsequent gameplay session to encourage future purchases.