Providing a physical indication of an objective met in an entertainment platform

• US 9,604,149 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Veprinsky, Michael, Jones, Allan D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherford, Syvila
• Application Number:
  US13/099,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20120283019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• 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 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method for enabling purchases of status items associated with an online virtual game is disclosed. The method involves: determining that a player of the online virtual game has achieved a first objective defined in the online virtual game, and informing an online store that the player has achieved the first objective. The online store is configured to allow the player to purchase a first status item for achieving the first objective. The first status item comprises a real-world indication that the player has achieved the first objective. The online store is configured to allow a particular player to purchase a particular status item associated with achieving a particular objective in the online virtual game that conveys that the particular player has, in fact, achieved the particular objective. The online store is configured to not allow the particular player to purchase the particular status item without actually having achieved the particular objective.

Claims

1. A method for enabling online purchases of physical status items associated with an entertainment platform, the method comprising:

determining, using a computing device, that a player of the entertainment platform has achieved a first non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform;

upon determining that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective, providing an indicia within the entertainment platform that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective and that a first physical status item that indicates achievement of the first non-monetary objective is available to be purchased as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

electronically transmitting, using the computing device, the indicia to a store, wherein in response to the indicia, the store is configured to;

display to the player only the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

allow the player to purchase, using real-world currency, the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective; and

whereby the store does not allow a particular player to purchase, using real-world currency, a particular physical status item without actually having achieved a particular non-monetary objective associated with the particular physical status item; and

determining, using the computing device, that the player has achieved a second non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform, informing the store that the player has achieved the second non-monetary objective, wherein the store is configured to allow the player to purchase a second physical status item for achieving the second non-monetary objective, the second physical status item is related to the first physical status item and, when purchased, is physically attachable to the first physical status item by the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein achieving the first non-monetary objective comprises reaching a first level in the entertainment platform, completing a first quest in the entertainment platform, defeating a first number of opponents in the entertainment platform, or obtaining a first ranking in the entertainment platform.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the store comprises an online store, and, in a first instance, login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform is the same as login information associated with the player and used for the store.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein in a second instance, login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform is different from login information of the player and used for the store.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

informing the store of the login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform prior to allowing the player to purchase the first physical status item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective comprises a printable coupon, a mobile phone-based coupon or a coupon code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the store further comprises a physical store having a brick and mortar presence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective comprises one of an electronic message transmitted to the online store, a cookie that is stored on a computer associated with the player and accessible to the online store, and a coupon code provided to the player.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first physical status item resembles a first virtual item given to the player within the entertainment platform for achieving the first non-monetary objective, the second physical status item resembles a second virtual item given to the player within the entertainment platform for achieving the second nonmonetary objective, and wherein the first and second virtual items are combinable within the entertainment platform.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, using the computing device, that the player has achieved a third non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform, informing the store that the player has achieved the third non-monetary objective, wherein the store is configured to allow the player to purchase a third physical status item for achieving the third non-monetary objective, the third physical status item is related to the first physical status item and the second physical status item and, when purchased, is physically attachable to the first physical status item or the second physical status item by the player such that the first physical status item, the second physical status item, and the third physical status item are combined.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform the steps of:

determining using a computing device that a player of an entertainment platform has achieved a first non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform;

upon determining that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective, providing an indicia within the entertainment platform that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective and that a first physical status item that indicates achievement of the first non-monetary objective is available to be purchased as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

electronically transmitting the indicia to a store, wherein in response to the indicia, the store is configured to;

display to the player only the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

allow the player to purchase, using real-world currency, the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective; and

whereby the store does not allow a particular player to purchase, using real-world currency, a particular physical status item without actually having achieved a particular non-monetary objective associated with the particular physical status item; and

determining that the player has achieved a second non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform, informing the store that the player has achieved the second non-monetary objective, wherein the store is configured to allow the player to purchase a second physical status item for achieving the second non-monetary objective, the second physical status item is related to the first physical status item and, when purchased, is physically attachable to the first physical status item by the player.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein achieving the first non-monetary objective comprises reaching a first level in the entertainment platform, completing a first quest in the entertainment platform, defeating a first number of opponents in the entertainment platform, or obtaining a first ranking in the entertainment platform.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein in a first instance, login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform is the same as login information associated with the player and used for the store.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein in a second instance, login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform is different from login information of the player and used for the store.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise:

informing the store of the login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform prior to allowing the player to purchase the first physical status item.

14. A system, comprising:

a machine within which an entertainment platform module executes, wherein the entertainment platform module is configured to;

determine that a player of the entertainment platform has achieved a first non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform;

upon determining that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective, provide an indicia within the entertainment platform that the player has achieved the first non-monetary objective and that a first physical status item that indicates achievement of the first non-monetary objective is available to be purchased as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

electronically transmit the indicia to a store, wherein in response to the indicia, the store is configured to;

display to the player only the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

allow the player to purchase, using real-world currency, the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective;

whereby the store does not allow a particular player to purchase, using real-world currency, a particular physical status item without actually having achieved a particular non-monetary objective associated with the particular physical status item; and

determining that the player has achieved a second non-monetary objective defined in the entertainment platform, informing the store that the player has achieved the second non-monetary objective, wherein the store is configured to allow the player to purchase a second physical status item for achieving the second non-monetary objective, the second physical status item is related to the first physical status item and, when purchased, is physically attachable to the first physical status item by the player.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the store is also executable within the machine.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein in a first instance, login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform module is the same as login information associated with the player and used for the store.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the store is also executable within a second machine.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein in a second instance, login information associated with the player and used for the entertainment platform module is different from login information associated with the player and used for the store.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the indicia coupon code provided to the player and to the store, and wherein the store is configured to allow the player to purchase, using real-world currency, the first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetary objective when the player provides the coupon code to the store.