System and method for the provision of time-based awards in an online game

• US 8,851,978 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Smalley, Kellen Christopher, Koh, James
• Primary Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US13/709,667
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• 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 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing stochastic, tiered awards in an online game based on a user'"'"'s real-time completion of a task in the online game, where a time clock for the task begins running (in real-time) at the completion of a user'"'"'s immediately previous task. The game may include a plurality of tasks, where a second task may be made performable in response to a user completing a first task. An award may be distributed to a user based on an amount of real world time taken by the user to complete the second task. A plurality of awards may be available for provision to a user. The plurality of potential awards may include various levels of potential awards.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing awards in an online game based on a completion time of a task in the game to be executed on a computer having one or more physical processors, the method comprising:

executing an instance of a virtual space;

implementing the instance of the virtual space to facilitate participation by one or more users in the game within the virtual space by determining view information that facilitates presentation of views of the virtual space to the one or more users by one or more client computing platforms, wherein the virtual space includes a simulated physical space and is configured to facilitate interaction of users with the virtual space and/or each other by performing operations in the virtual space, and wherein the game includes a series of tasks that are performable by the one or more users within the virtual space, the series of tasks comprising a first task and a second task, the second task becoming performable by the user responsive to the user completing the first task;

determining the user has completed the first task;

making the second task performable by the user in response to the user completing the first task;

determining a first award from a plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the first task, wherein individual ones of the plurality of potential awards have an associated value to the user;

distributing the first award to the user within the virtual space;

determining the user has completed the second task;

determining an amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user;

determining a second award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the second task, wherein the second award is determined based on the associated value to the user for the second award and the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user, wherein when the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task increases, the associated value to the user of the determined second award reduces; and

distributing the second award to the user within the virtual space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential awards comprises:

provision of one or more respect points to the user;

provision of a pre-determined amount of virtual currency to the user;

provision of a virtual item to the user;

instantiation of a buff;

establishment of a relationship with the user'"'"'s character;

provision of access for the user to an area that was not previously accessible to the user;

impact to a character with whom the user has a relationship;

modification of a subsequent task for the user;

or provision of a time bonus to the user, the time bonus comprising a reduction of amount of time to complete a task.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential awards comprises a plurality of levels of potential awards, each of the plurality of levels of potential awards comprising one or more potential awards.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the second award for the user comprises:

determining a level among the plurality of levels of potential awards to be associated with the user;

selecting an award from the associated level of potential awards for the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting the award from the associated level of potential awards comprises randomly selecting the award from the associated level of potential awards.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting the award from the associated level of potential awards comprises selecting the award based on the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of potential awards comprises:

changing the level of potential awards associated with the user.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the first level of potential awards comprises a first set of potential awards for the user and a second set of potential awards different from the first set of potential awards for a second user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user comprises:

starting running of a clock that measures real world time at the completion of the first task;

re-starting the running of the clock at the completion of the second task.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of tasks comprises a third task, the third task becoming performable by the user responsive to the user completing the second task;

determining the user has completed the second task;

making the third task performable by the user in response to the user completing the second task;

determining the user has completed the third task;

determining an amount of real world time between completion of the second task and completion of the third task by the user;

determining a third award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the third task, wherein the third award is determined based on the associated value to the user for the third award and the amount of real world time between completion of the second task and completion of the third task by the user, such that as the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task increases, the associated value to the user of the determined second award reduces; and

distributing the third award to the user within the virtual space.

11. A system configured to provide awards in an online game based on a completion time of a task in the game, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute compute program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a space module configured to execute an instance of a virtual space, and to implement the instance of the virtual space to facilitate participation by one or more users in the game within the virtual space by determining view information that facilitates presentation of views of the virtual space to the one or more users by one or more client computing platforms, wherein the game includes a series of tasks that are performable by the one or more users within the virtual space, the series of tasks comprising a first task and a second task, the second task becoming performable by the user responsive to the user completing the first task;

a task management module configured to;

determine the user has completed the first task;

make the second task performable by the user in response to the user completing the first task; and

determine the user has completed the second task;

a clock management module configured to determine an amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user;

and an award management module configured to;

determine a first award from a plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the first task, wherein individual ones of the plurality of potential awards have an associated value to the user;

distribute the first award to the user within the virtual space;

determine a second award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the second task, wherein the second award is determined based on the associated value to the user for the second award and the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user, wherein when the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task increases, the associated value to the user of the determined second award reduces;

and distribute the second award to the user within the virtual space.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of potential awards comprises:

provision of one or more respect points to the user;

provision of a pre-determined amount of virtual currency to the user;

provision of a virtual item to the user;

instantiation of a buff;

establishment of a relationship with the user'"'"'s character;

provision of access for the user to an area that was not previously accessible to the user;

impact to a character with whom the user has a relationship;

modification of a subsequent task for the user;

or provision of a time bonus to the user, the time bonus comprising a reduction of amount of time to complete a task.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of potential awards comprises a plurality of levels of potential awards, each of the plurality of levels of potential awards comprising one or more potential awards.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the award management module is configured to:

determine a level among the plurality of levels of potential awards to be associated with the user;

select an award from the associated level of potential awards for the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the award management module is configured to:

randomly select the award from the associated level of potential awards.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the award management module is configured to:

select the award based on the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of potential awards comprises:

changing the level of potential awards associated with the user.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first level of potential awards comprises a first set of potential awards for the user and a second set of potential awards different from the first set of potential awards for a second user.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the clock management module is configured to:

start running of a clock that measures real world time at the completion of the first task;

re-start the running of the clock at the completion of the second task.

20. The system of claim 11,

wherein the series of tasks comprises a third task, the third task becoming performable by the user responsive to the user completing the second task;

wherein the task management module is configured to;

determine the user has completed the second task;

make the third task performable by the user in response to the user completing the second task; and

determine the user has completed the third task;

wherein the clock management module is configured to determine an amount of real world time between completion of the second task and completion of the third task by the user; and

wherein the award management module is configured to;

determine a third award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the third task, wherein the third award is determined based on the associated value to the user for the third award and the amount of real world time between completion of the second task and completion of the third task by the user such that as the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task increases, the associated value to the user of the determined second award reduces; and

distribute the third award to the user within the virtual space.

21. A non-transitory electronic storage media storing computer program information related to providing awards in an online game based on a completion time of a task in the game, the non-transitory electronic storage media comprising:

a memory configured to store computer program information related to one or more users of an online game and computer program information related to a plurality of potential awards;

instructions configured to cause a client computing platform to;

execute an instance of a virtual space;

implement the instance of the virtual space to facilitate participation by one or more users in the game within the virtual space by determining view information that facilitates presentation of views of the virtual space to the one or more users by one or more client computing platforms, wherein the game includes a series of tasks that are performable by the one or more users within the virtual space, the series of tasks comprising a first task and a second task, the second task becoming performable by the user responsive to the user completing the first task;

determine the user has completed the first task;

make the second task performable by the user in response to the user completing the first task;

determine a first award from the plurality of potential awards for the user as an award for completing the first task, wherein individual ones of the plurality of potential awards have an associated value to the user;

distribute the first award to the user within the virtual space;

determine the user has completed the second task;

determine an amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user;

determine a second award from the plurality of awards for the user as an award for completing the second task, wherein the second award is determined based on the associated value to the user for the second award and the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task by the user, wherein when the amount of real world time between completion of the first task and completion of the second task increases, the associated value to the user of the determined second award reduces; and

distribute the second award to the user within the virtual space.