Video game title profile awards

• US 8,632,412 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, Ryan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US12/023,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,182 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/31, 463/43, 463/47, 463/49
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

Techniques for recognizing the accomplishments of a game player are disclosed herein. In particular, a user identification profile is provided so that digital items awarded to the user for meeting specified performance criteria in a video game or some other event may be associated with such user identification profile. The digital item may be something that is usable within the current video game title, in a later version or the next generation of a particular video game title, or even in a different video game by the same developer. One technique involves receiving an identification representative of the digital item awarded to the user, associating the digital item with the user identification profile corresponding to the user, and storing an indication that the digital item is associated with the user identification profile. In this way, the indication may be utilized to display the digital item in the user identification profile.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a process comprising:

receiving at a gaming system a gamer profile, the gamer profile is associated with a game player;

performing on the gaming system a first video game, the first video game awards a digital item other than points;

receiving an identification of the digital item, the digital item is awarded to the game player by the first video game, the digital item is usable as a gaming object by the game player in both the first video game and a second video game, the second video game is different from the first video game, the first video game is associated with a first video game title, the second video game is associated with a second video game title, the first video game title is different from the second video game title;

updating the gamer profile to include the identification of the digital item; and

performing on the gaming system the second video game, the digital item is utilized in the second video game.

2. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the digital item is awarded to the game player for an accomplishment in the first video game;

and the digital item is transferable to the second video game.

3. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the digital item is awarded to the game player while the game player is playing the first video game, the digital item unlocks a level in the second video game.

4. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the digital item provides access to a weapon in the second video game.

5. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the digital item is an article of apparel.

6. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the digital item is displayed on an avatar in the gamer profile.

7. A method for transferring gaming awards, comprising:

receiving at a gaming system a user identification profile, the user identification profile is associated with a game player;

performing a first video game, the first video game awards a digital item other than points to the game player;

receiving a representation of the digital item, the digital item is awarded to the game player by the first video game, the digital item is usable as a gaming object by the game player in both the first video game and a second video game, the second video game is different from the first video game, the first video game is associated with a first video game title, the second video game is associated with a second video game title, the first video game title is different from the second video game title;

updating the user identification profile to include the representation of the digital item; and

performing the second video game, the second video game utilizes the digital item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises displaying the representation of the digital item in the gamer profile.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first video game is performed on the gaming system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital item is displayed on an avatar in the user identification profile.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital item is awarded to the game player for an accomplishment in the first video game, the digital item is used by the game player in the second video game.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital item is awarded to the game player while the game player is playing the first video game, the digital item unlocks a level in the second video game.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the first video game is associated with a particular video game title and the second video game comprises a later version of the particular video game title than the first video game.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital item provides access to a weapon in the second video game.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital item provides access to a digital good.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital good is a weapon.

17. An electronic device for utilizing one or more gaming profiles, comprising:

a communication interface, the communication interface receives a gamer profile;

a storage device, the storage device stores a first set of program instructions associated with a first video game and a second set of program instructions associated with a second video game; and

one or more processors in communication with the communication interface and the storage device, the one or more processors execute the first set of program instructions associated with the first video game to perform the first video game and award a digital item other than points to the gamer profile during the first video game, the digital item is usable as a gaming object by a game player in both the first video game and the second video game, the gamer profile is associated with the game player, the second video game is different from the first video game, the first video game is associated with a first video game title, the second video game is associated with a second video game title, the first video game title is different from the second video game title, the one or more processors execute the second set of program instructions associated with the second video game to perform the second video game, the digital item is utilized in the second video game.