LEVERAGING ONLINE GAME GOALS AND ECONOMY TO DRIVE OFF-LINE BEHAVIORS

• US 20160214017A1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Robinson, Mark Krietzman
• Original Assignee: Andrew Robinson, Mark Krietzman
• Inventors: Robinson, Andrew, Krietzman, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,226,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing

Abstract

A method and system to leverage a gaming infrastructure to encourage actions in a non-virtual environment to achieve virtual world benefits, comprising having a participant install an application on smart phone; the participant sets up an account on Gameco servers; application interacts with Gameco servers; Gameco servers provide participant opportunities to acquire virtual world benefits by visiting specific geographic locations which may include businesses; participants visits specified location; and, participant is provided a virtual reward by Gameco.

Claims

1. A method to leverage a gaming infrastructure to encourage actions in a non-virtual environment to achieve virtual world benefits, the method comprising:

participant installs an application on smart phone;

application interacts with Gameco servers;

Gameco servers provide participant opportunities to acquire virtual world benefits by visiting specific geographic locations which may include businesses;

participants visits specified location; and

, participant is provided a virtual reward by Gameco.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the participant sets up an account on Gameco servers.

2. A method to leverage a gaming infrastructure to encourage actions in a non-virtual environment to achieve virtual world rewards or benefits, the method comprising:

a participant using a computing device interacts with an application or website which communicates with Gameco servers;

from time to time Gameco servers contact the participant via the computing device to give notice of an opportunity to achieve virtual rewards in a gaming environment or virtual world via going to a location and performing some action in the real world;

participant is verified as participating; and

, Gameco servers determine if opportunity has been met and award virtual reward to participant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein verification includes the participant is identified at the location via location servers;

4. The method of claim 2, wherein verification participant is verified or confirmed as performing the activity by at least one of participants computing device and computing devices at client locations;

5. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising Gameco servers decisioning that additional opportunities exist for a specific participant at or near a specific location and Gameco notifies participant of the opportunity.

6. The method of claim 2 the method further comprising Gameco servers contact client servers and request payment for virtual reward provided to participant.

7. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising Gameco servers decisioning that additional opportunities exist for a specific participant at or near a specific location and Gameco notifies participant of the opportunity.

8. The method of claim 7 the method further comprising Gameco servers verifies participant'"'"'s additional opportunity activity.

9. The method of claim 8 the method further comprising Gameco servers contact client servers and request payment for virtual reward for participant'"'"'s additional activity.

10. The method of claim 7 the method further comprising participant via computing device confirms to Gameco servers that he/she will chose an opportunity to act and Gameco servers record the confirmation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein Gameco servers offer participant an enhanced or increased reward for making the confirmation after the participant completes the activity.

12. A method to leverage a gaming infrastructure to encourage commercial purchases in a non-virtual environment, the method comprising:

a client contacts Gameco and agrees on an offer of virtual world benefits or rewards to be awarded participants in an online game for performing activities in a real world;

Gameco servers populate the offer via a notification to the computing devices of at least some of the participants in the online game; and

client pays Gameco for providing the notification.

13. The method to leverage a gaming infrastructure to encourage commercial purchases in a non-virtual environment of claim 12 the method further comprising the participant must perform the activity at a threshold level to obtain a reward in the virtual game world;

and client pays Gameco for providing the virtual reward.