Providing offers to computer game players

• US 8,029,359 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: World Golf Tour, Inc. (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: World Golf Tour, Inc. (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Cheng, YuChiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US12/057,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 463 17- 19, 463 3- 4, 463/6, 463/25, 273/269, 2731081-1084, 273245-247, 2733171-3176, 273/461, 283/48.1, 283 49- 51, 705/14.1, 705/14.12, 705/14.22, 705/14.3, 705/14.38, 700/90
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/55 Details of game data or player data management
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

A method of rewarding a game player of a game can target particular types of offers to a player. A usage profile is determined for the player, which can be based on interaction between the player and items or goals in a game. Player information is identified, such as player statistics or categorization of the player. A category is selected for the player, based on the usage profile and the player information for the player. An offer is then selected from a group of offers, wherein the offer is for a real world object, service or event.

Claims

1. A method of presenting offers to a game player by using a gaming device, the gaming device being operable to perform operations of the method comprising:

determining, via the gaming device, psychographic traits of a player based on at least one of the player'"'"'s product selection, difficulty level selection, and performance in a game, the psychographic traits providing information about at least one of the player'"'"'s personality and preferences;

identifying player information, wherein the player information includes at least one of player identifier, player location, player address, days and times of play, and personal information;

selecting, via the gaming device, a category for the player using the player information and the psychographic traits of the player;

selecting, via the gaming device, an offer from a group of offers available for the player in the category based on the player information and the psychographic traits of the player, wherein the offer is for a real world object, service or event; and

providing, via the gaming device, the offer to the player in response to the player'"'"'s product selection, difficulty level selection, or performance during the game before the player'"'"'s next product selection or performance in the game, wherein the game is a virtual sports game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the psychographic traits includes determining a type of equipment the player selects for use in the game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the psychographic traits includes determining a brand of equipment the player selects for use in the game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the psychographic traits includes determining a goal that the player selects to achieve in the game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the psychographic traits includes determining that the player has selected to use an item within the game with a particular frequency or for a particular length of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the psychographic traits includes determining that the player has a particular number of items in a game bag.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying player information includes determining demographic data of the player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying player information includes determining behavioral variables about the player.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of offers includes discounts on real world objects.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of offers includes discounts on real world opportunities.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the offer includes providing the offer to the player through one of electronic message or a postal service.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer codes stored thereon to perform operations comprising:

determining psychographic traits of a player based on at least one of the player'"'"'s product selection, difficulty level selection, and performance in a game, the psychographic traits providing information about at least one of the player'"'"'s personality and preferences;

identifying player information, wherein the player information includes at least one of player identifier, player location, player address, days and times of play, and personal information;

selecting a category for the player using the player information and the psychographic traits of the player;

selecting an offer from a group of offers available for the player in the category based on the player information and the psychographic traits of the player, wherein the offer is for a real world object, service or event; and

providing, via the gaming device, the offer to the player in response to the player'"'"'s product selection, difficulty level selection, or performance during the game before the player'"'"'s next product selection or performance in the game, wherein the game is a virtual sports game.