System and method for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game

• US 9,717,986 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Im, Peter, Kawaguchi, Brent Jason, Lee, Hannah Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clarke, Jr., Robert T
• Application Number:
  US14/308,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 13/70 Game security or game management aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game. The system and method include executing an instance of an online game. The system and method include maintaining inventories of virtual items, and presenting offers to sell probability item bundles. The system and method include associating potential awards in sets of potential awards with different award distribution probabilities. The system and method include receiving activation requests from users for purchased probability item bundles. The system and method include stochastically selecting one of the potential awards in accordance with the award distribution probabilities and providing access to a first quest in an online game in accordance with the selected award.

Claims

1. A system for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game, the system comprising:

one or more physical computer processors configured by machine-readable instructions to;

execute an instance of the online game, and to implement the instance of the online game to facilitate participation of users in gameplay of the online game, via client computing platforms;

maintain inventories of virtual items under control of the users, and to store associations between the users and the virtual items under their control;

effectuate presentation to the users, through a shop interface, offers to sell probability item bundles, individual ones of the probability item bundles being associated, via the one or more physical computer processors, with sets of potential awards for the online game, the probability item bundles including a first probability item bundle being associated, via the one or more physical computer processors, with a first set of potential awards, the first set of potential awards including a first potential award and a second potential award, the first potential award including access to a first quest in the online game;

wherein the potential awards in the sets of potential awards are associated, via the one or more physical computer processors, with different award distribution probabilities such that the first potential award is associated, via the one or more physical computer processors, with a first award distribution probability and the second potential award is associated with a second award distribution probability;

wherein purchase of the probability item bundles by the users results in addition, via the one or more physical computer processors, of purchased probability item bundles to the inventories of the users such that responsive to purchase of the first probability item bundle by a first user, the first probability item bundle is added to a first inventory of virtual items under control of the first user; and

receive activation requests from the users for the purchased probability item bundles under user controlled inventories, and to stochastically distribute the potential awards to the users in accordance with the award distribution probabilities associated with the potential awards such that, in response to receiving an activation request from the first user for the first probability item bundle subsequent to purchase of the first probability item bundle by the first user, one of the potential awards is stochastically selected from the first set of potential awards in accordance with the award distribution probabilities associated with the potential awards such that the first potential award is selected, and to distribute the stochastically selected first potential award to the first user, and wherein responsive to the selection and distribution of the first potential award to the first user, the first user is provided with access, via the one or more physical computer processors, to the first quest in the online game.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first quest includes game activity that directly impacts game content and game evolution within the executed instance of the online game.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the access to the first quest is presented, via the one or more physical computer processors, as one of the potential awards from the first set of potential awards of the first probability item bundle having a presentation in the online game as a mystery box presentation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein successful completion of gameplay criteria of the first quest results in items, prizes, and/or bonuses that cannot be obtained by completion of universal quests.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the universal quests include game activity that serves as part of an online game tutorial, the tutorial including walkthrough instructions of the gameplay.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the universal quests includes game actions of:

quests resulting in a user leveling up a character or kingdom, quests that tell a story, or quests that introduce new features.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first quest includes game activity including attacking specific tiles, or engaging in a personal tournament of might, or building a certain building or troop.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the purchase of the first probability item bundle includes completion of a microtransaction.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first quest includes additional game content and gameplay for one or more of low level, mid-level, and/or high level players.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the quests is associated with a quest type, a quantity of quest type per online game, and an associated prize.

11. A computer-implemented method for providing a quest from a probability item bundle in an online game, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors executing computer program components, the method comprising:

executing an instance of the online game and implementing the instance of the online game to facilitate participation in the online game by users via client computing platforms;

maintaining inventories of virtual items under control of the users, and storing associations between the users and the virtual items under their control;

effectuating presentation to the users, through a shop interface, offers to sell probability item bundles, potential ones of the probability item bundles being associated with sets of potential awards for the online game, the probability item bundles including a first probability item bundle being associated with a first set of potential awards, the first set of potential awards including a first potential award and a second potential award, the first potential award including access to a first quest in the online game;

associating the potential awards in the sets of potential awards with different award distribution probabilities such that the first potential award is associated with a first award distribution probability and the second potential award is associated with a second award distribution probability, and

wherein purchasing of the probability item bundles by the users results in adding the purchased probability item bundles to the inventories of the users such that responsive to purchasing of the first probability item bundle by a first user, adding the purchased first probability item bundle to a first inventory of virtual items under control of the first user; and

receiving activation requests from the users for the purchased probability item bundles under user controlled inventories, and stochastically distributing the potential awards to the users in accordance with the different award distribution probabilities associated with the potential awards such that, in response to receiving an activation request from the first user for the first probability item bundle subsequent to purchase of the first probability item bundle by the first user, stochastically selecting one of the potential awards from the first set of potential awards in accordance with the different award distribution probabilities associated with the potential awards such that the first potential award is selected, and distributing the stochastically selected first potential award to the first user, wherein responsive to the selection and distribution of the first potential award to the first user, providing the first user with access to the first quest from the first probability item bundle in the online game.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the quest includes game activity that directly impacts game content and game evolution within the executed instance of the online game.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the access to the first quest is presented as one of the potential awards from the first set of potential awards of the first probability item bundle having a presentation in the online game as a mystery box presentation.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein successful completion of gameplay criteria of the first quest results in items, prizes, and/or bonuses that cannot be obtained by completion of universal quests.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the universal quests include game activity that serves as part of an online game tutorial, the tutorial including walkthrough instructions of the gameplay.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the universal quests includes game actions of:

quests resulting in a user leveling up a character or kingdom, quests that tell a story, or quests that introduce new features.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first quest includes gameplay activity including attacking specific tiles, or engaging in a personal tournament of might, or building a certain building or troop.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the purchasing of the first probability item bundle includes completion of a microtransaction.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the first quest includes additional game content and gameplay for one or more of low level, mid-level, and/or high level players.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the quests is associated with a quest type, a quantity of quest type per online game, and an associated prize.