System and method for providing in-game pricing relative to player statistics

• US 9,138,639 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Ernst, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US13/910,037
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/35 Details of 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 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• 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

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing players pricing of in-game virtual items associated with their experience and their progress in the game. For example, the first player and the second player may have similar triggers, similar in-game events, and actually have different prices and currencies inside each story depending on each player'"'"'s progress in the game, thus creating an individualized experience that may alter from player to player.

Claims

1. A system configured to facilitate providing an individualized experience that varies for users, the system comprising:

one or more physical 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 that takes place in the virtual space, wherein the space module is configured to facilitate interaction of a user with the virtual space by executing actions in the instance of the virtual space in response to receiving the user'"'"'s input;

a user module configured to store inventories of resources that are available to users in the virtual space, the inventories including a first inventory of resources available to a first user in the virtual space;

a metrics module configured to determine a user metric that quantifies an aspect of the first user'"'"'s participation in the game;

a shop module configured to effectuate presentation to the users of offers to purchase resources, the offers including a first offer for the first user to purchase a first set of one or more items, and a second offer for the first user to purchase a second set of one or more items different from the first set of one or more items; and

a cost determination module configured to determine prices for the offers for the individual users based on the user metrics for the individual users such that a first price of the first offer for the first user is determined based on the user metric for the first user, and a second price of the second offer for the first user is determined based on the user metric for the first user,

wherein the shop module is further configured such that the offers presented to the first user are restricted to offers having prices in a first price range, the first price range being determined based on the user metric for the first user, and

wherein, responsive to the first price being in the first price range and the second price being out of the first price range, such restriction causes the first offer to be presented to the first user and the second offer to be restricted for the first user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the metrics module is configured such that the user metric is determined based on one or more of:

resources in inventory, items in inventory, quests completed, alliances joined, or levels completed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein cost determination module is configured such that the price of the first offer for a second user is determined based on the user metric for the second user, wherein in response to the user metric of the first user being higher than the user metric for the second user, the price of the first offer for the first user is lower than the price of the first offer for the second user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the shop module is configured such that the first price range changes based on the user metric.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the shop module is configured such that the first price range includes a minimum value and a maximum value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the shop module is configured such that in response to the second price being below the minimum value, the second offer is not available to the first user.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the shop module is configured such that in response to the second price being above the maximum value, the second offer is locked and will become unlocked when the first price range is adjusted to include the second price.

8. A computer implemented method for providing an individualized experience that varies for users, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more physical processors executing computer program modules, the method comprising:

executing an instance of a virtual space, and implementing the instance of the virtual space to facilitate participation by the users in an online game that takes place in the virtual space, wherein facilitating interaction of a user with the virtual space by executing actions in the instance of the virtual space in response to receiving the user'"'"'s input;

storing inventories of resources that are available to users in the virtual space, the inventories including a first inventory of resources available to a first user in the virtual space;

determining a user metric that quantifies an aspect of the first user'"'"'s participation in the game;

effectuating presentation to the users of offers to purchase resources, the offers including a first offer for the first user to purchase a first set of one or more items, and a second offer for the first user to purchase a second set of one or more items different from the first set of one or more items; and

determining prices for the offers for the individual users based on the user metrics for the individual users such that a first price of the first offer for the first user is determined based on the user metric for the first user, and a second price of the second offer for the first user is determined based on the user metric for the first user,

wherein the offers presented to the first user are restricted to offers having prices in a first price range, the first price range being determined based on the user metric for the first user, and

wherein, responsive to the first price being in the first price range and the second price being out of the first price range, such restriction causes the first offer to be presented to the first user and the second offer to be restricted for the first user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metric is determined based on one or more of:

resources in inventory, items in inventory, quests completed, alliances joined, or levels completed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the price of the first offer for a second user is determined based on the user metric for the second user, wherein in response to the user metric of the first user being higher than the user metric for the second user, the price of the first offer for the first user is lower than the price of the first offer for the second user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a shop module is configured such that the first price range changes based on the user metric.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the shop module is configured such that the first price range includes a minimum value and a maximum value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the shop module is configured such that in response to the second price being below the minimum value, the second offer is not available to the first user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the shop module is configured such that in response to the second price being above the maximum value, the second offer is locked and will become unlocked when the first price range is adjusted to include the second price.