Game-based incentives for location-based actions

• US 8,388,451 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Waldron, Justin, Wang, Jackson, Auterio, Kathleen, Ersever, Deniz, Kheskani, Hardik, Lam, Serena, Makarsky, Christopher Joseph, Mosites, Donald C., Mullin, Benjamin, Talapatra, Shantanu
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/244,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20120040745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 705/14.12
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for providing game-based incentives to users of online games as a reward for performing actions at physical locations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying one or more computer-implemented games associated with a user;

determining, using at least one processor of a machine, a reward for the user based at least in part on the one or more computer-implemented games, the reward being an in-game asset in the one or more computer-implemented games;

determining a location-based action for the user based on a stored attribute of the physical location, the location-based action being an action performable by the user at a physical location external to the one or more computer-implemented games;

providing an offer of the reward based on performance of the location-based action at the physical location to a device associated with the user; and

crediting the user with the reward based on verification that the user performed the location-based action at the physical location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification comprises an indication of when the location-based action was performed by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification comprises an indication of where the location-based action was performed by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the verification comprises an indication of how the location-based action was performed by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based action is a purchase of an item at the physical location, the verification including purchase information usable to identify the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based action is a presence of the user at the physical location, the verification being based on a form of identification of the user presented at the physical location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-based action is a presence of the user at the physical location, the verification being based on a proximity of the user to the physical location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is a virtual item provided to a character controlled by the user in a virtual world of the one or more computer-implemented games.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the crediting comprises adding the reward to an in-game asset list for the one or more computer-implemented games.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the offer comprises:

receiving a call from a system of the device associated with the user; and

providing details of the offer in response to the receiving of the call, the details including a description of the reward and a description of the location-based action.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the offer comprises providing instructions to render the offer in a discrete section of an interface of the one or more computer-implemented games.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the reward comprises selecting a game from the one or more computer-implemented games for which to offer a reward based on factors of the one or more computer-implemented games, the factors being at least one selection from the group consisting of frequency of play, duration of play, and play preferences for each of the one or more computer-implemented games.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the location-based action comprises selecting a game from the one or more computer-implemented games for which the location-based action is to be associated based on factors of the one or more computer-implemented games, the factors being at least one selection from the group consisting of frequency of play, duration of play, and play preferences for each of the one or more computer-implemented games.

14. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

identifying one or more computer-implemented games associated with a user;

determining a reward for the user based at least in part on the one or more computer-implemented games, the reward being an in-game asset in the one or more computer-implemented games;

determining a location-based action for the user based on a stored attribute of the physical location, the location-based action being an action performable by the user at a physical location external to the one or more computer-implemented games;

providing an offer of the reward based on performance of the location-based action at the physical location to a device associated with the user; and

crediting the user with the reward based on verification that the user performed the location-based action at the physical location.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the crediting comprises adding the reward to an in-game asset list for the one or more computer-implemented games.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the providing of the offer comprises:

receiving a call from a system of the device associated with the user; and

providing details of the offer in response to the receiving of the call, the details including a description of the reward and a description of the location-based action.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the providing of the offer comprises providing instructions to render the offer in a discrete section of an interface of the one or more computer-implemented games.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the location-based action is a purchase of an item at the physical location, the verification including purchase information usable to identify the user.

19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein the location-based action is a presence of the user at the physical location, the verification being based on a form of identification of the user presented at the physical location or on a proximity of the user to the physical location.

20. A system comprising:

at least one processor of a machine; and

a game networking system configured to;

identify one or more computer-implemented games associated with a user;

determine a reward for the user based at least in part on the one or more computer-implemented games, the reward being an in-game asset in the one or more computer-implemented games;

determine a location-based action for the user based on a stored attribute of the physical location, the location-based action being an action performable by the user at a physical location external to the one or more computer-implemented games;

provide an offer of the reward based on performance of the location-based action at the physical location to a device associated with the user; and

credit the user with the reward based on verification that the user performed the location-based action at the physical location.