System and method for providing dynamic and static contest prize allocation based on in-game achievement of a user

• US 8,961,319 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Pieron, Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/895,832
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 25, 463 29- 42
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing dynamic and static contest prize allocation based on in-game achievement of a user in an online game in order to encourage players to continue to purchase items to improve their tournament metrics even if they may be unable to improve their tournament rank. For example, calculation of a dynamic prize may comprise for rank x, the player may gain 1 prize unit for every y Glory gained (when Glory may be the measured by the tournament). The y value may increase for lower ranks achieved in the tournament.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating an interface-based virtual space tournament generation, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer 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 the users in an online game, wherein the space module is configured to facilitate interaction of users with the virtual space and/or each other by performing operations in the virtual space in response to commands received from the users;

an objective criteria module configured to obtain event criteria by achievement of users of the game is to be ranked as part of a limited time event;

a user ranking module configured to rank users according to their achievement in the game in terms of the event criteria during an event time period over which the limited time event takes place;

an award determination module configured to determine awards to be distributed to the users, the awards including a first award to be distributed to a first user, the first award having a primary component and a secondary component, the secondary component of the first award being determined based on absolute progress of the first user with respect to the event criteria during the event time period, and the primary component of the first award being determined based on the relative ranking of the first user with respect to the other users as determined by the user ranking module; and

an award distribution module configured to distribute the awards to appropriate users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the objective criteria module is configured such that the event criteria are determined based on one or more of:

a resource unit amassed, troop unit amassed, wealth, or score.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the award determination module is configured such that the primary component includes virtual items for use in the game.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the award determination module is configured such that the secondary component includes troops for use in the game.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the award determination module is configured such that the secondary component is provided when the first user achieves above a minimum level of absolute progress.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the award determination module is configured such that the secondary component varies based on user results above a minimum level of absolute progress.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising rank presentation module configured to effectuate presentation to the first user of a motivation message, wherein the motivation message comprises an indication of the present first user rank according to their achievement in the game.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the rank presentation module is further configured to effectuate presentation to the first user of one or more incentives for achieving a relatively high rank in the hierarchy of ranking of users.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the rank presentation module is further configured to effectuate presentation to the first user of one or more incentives for achieving an objective with respect to the event criteria defined by an administrator.

10. A method for facilitating an interface-based virtual space tournament generation, implemented on a computer system that includes one or more physical processors, the method comprising:

implementing an instance of an online game to facilitate interaction of the users with the game;

executing an instance of a virtual space, and to implement the instance of the virtual space to facilitate participation by the users in an online game, wherein facilitating the interaction of users with the virtual space and/or each other by performing operations in the virtual space in response to commands received from the users;

obtaining event criteria by achievement of users of the game is to be ranked as part of a limited time event;

ranking users according to their achievement in the game in terms of the event criteria during an event time period over which the limited time event takes place;

determining awards to be distributed to the users, the awards including a first award to be distributed to a first user, the first award having a primary component and a secondary component, the secondary component of the first award being determined based on absolute progress of the first user with respect to the event criteria during the event time period, and the primary component of the first award being determined based on the relative ranking of the first user with respect to the other users as determined by the user ranking module; and

distributing the awards to appropriate users.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the event criteria are determined based on one or more of:

a resource unit amassed, troop unit amassed, wealth, or score.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the primary component includes virtual items for use in the game.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the secondary component includes troops for use in the game.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the secondary component is provided when the first user achieves above a minimum level of absolute progress.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the secondary component varies based on user results above a minimum level of absolute progress.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising effectuating presentation to the first user of a motivation message, wherein the motivation message comprises an indication of the present first user rank according to their achievement in the game.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising effectuating presentation to the first user of one or more incentives for achieving a relatively high rank in the hierarchy of ranking of users.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising effectuating presentation to the first user of one or more incentives for achieving an objective with respect to the event criteria defined by an administrator.