System and method for driving microtransactions in multiplayer video games

• US 9,789,406 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Marr, Michael D., Kaplan, Keith S., Lewis, Nathan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/712,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20160005270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A system and method is provided that drives microtransactions in multiplayer video games. The system may include a microtransaction arrange matches to influence game-related purchases. For instance, the system may match a more expert/marquee player with a junior player to encourage the junior player to make game-related purchases of items possessed/used by the marquee player. A junior player may wish to emulate the marquee player by obtaining weapons or other items used by the marquee player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of driving microtransactions in a multi-player game, the method being implemented by a host computer having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer to perform the method, wherein the host computer is in data communication with a plurality of computing devices and that each of the plurality of computing devices is configured to interact with an instance of the multi-player game, the method comprising:

identifying, by the host computer, an in-game item that is of potential interest to a first player, but not yet possessed by the first player for gameplay in a multi-player game, wherein the in-game item is determined to be of potential interest to the first player based on at least one of a preference of the first player in a profile associated with the first player in the multi-player game and a utility of the in-game item to a particular level of the multi-player game;

identifying, by the host computer, a second player that possesses the in-game item;

matching, by the host computer, the first player and the second player to play in a gameplay session, wherein the matching is based on;

(i) the potential interest of the in-game item to the first player, and (ii) the possession of the in-game item by the second player; and

updating the profile associated with the first player in the multi-player game to reflect a purchase or non-purchase of the in-game item.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining, by the host computer, that the first player has purchased the in-game item in relation to the gameplay session;

determining, by the host computer, a subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item; and

matching, by the host computer, the first player to play in the subsequent gameplay session based upon said determination of the subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the in-game item that is of potential interest to the first player comprises:

obtaining the profile associated with the first player, wherein the profile comprises the preference that is used to determine that the first player would be interested in the in-game item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the preference comprises an express preference provided by the first player or a derived preference that is determined based on a gameplay history of the first player.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the preference relates to a player role that the first player prefers to play, and wherein the in-game item relates to the player role.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

determining that the second player has achieved a skill level in association with the player role, wherein the second player is identified based further on the skill level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the in-game item is identified based further on a promotion to sell the in-game item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first player is associated with a first skill level and the second player is associated with a second skill level that indicates a higher degree of skill than the first skill level, and wherein the second player is identified based further on a difference between the first skill level and the second skill level.

9. A system for driving microtransactions in a multi-player game, the system comprising:

a host computer, wherein the host computer is in data communication with a plurality of computing devices and that each of the plurality of computing devices is configured to interact with an instance of the multi-player game and wherein the host computer has one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the host computer to;

identify an in-game item that is of potential interest to a first player, but not yet possessed by the first player for gameplay in a multi-player game, wherein the in-game item is determined to be of potential interest to the first player based on at least one of a preference of the first player in a profile associated with the first player in the multi-player game and a utility of the in-game item to a particular level of the multi-player game;

identify a second player that possesses the in-game item;

match the first player and the second player to play in a gameplay session, wherein the matching is based on;

(i) the potential interest of the in-game item to the first player, and (ii) the possession of the in-game item by the second player; and

update the profile associated with the first player in the multi-player game to reflect a purchase or non-purchase of the in-game item.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

determine that the first player has purchased the in-game item in relation to the gameplay session;

determine a subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item; and

match the first player to play in the subsequent gameplay session based upon said determination of the subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein to identify the in-game item that is of potential interest to the first player, the host computer is programmed to:

obtain the profile associated with the first player, wherein the profile comprises the preference that is used to determine that the first player would be interested in the in-game item.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the preference comprises an express preference provided by the first player or a derived preference that is determined based on a gameplay history of the first player.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the preference relates to a player role that the first player prefers to play, and wherein the in-game item relates to the player role.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the host computer is further programmed to:

determine that the second player has achieved a skill level in association with the player role, wherein the second player is identified based further on the skill level.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the in-game item is identified based further on a promotion to sell the in-game item.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the first player is associated with a first skill level and the second player is associated with a second skill level that indicates a higher degree of skill than the first skill level, and wherein the second player is identified based further on a difference between the first skill level and the second skill level.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon for driving microtransactions in a multi-player game, the computer program instructions, when executed by one or more physical processors of a host computer, cause the host computer to:

identify an in-game item that is of potential interest to a first player, but not yet possessed by the first player for gameplay in a multi-player game, wherein the in-game item is determined to be of potential interest to the first player based on at least one of a preference of the first player in a profile associated with the first player in the multi-player game and a utility of the in-game item to a particular level of the multi-player game;

identify a second player that possesses the in-game item;

match the first player and the second player to play in a gameplay session, wherein the matching is based on;

(i) the potential interest of the in-game item to the first player, and (ii) the possession of the in-game item by the second player; and

update the profile of the first player in the multi-player game to reflect a purchase or non-purchase of the in-game item, wherein the host computer is in data communication with a plurality of computing devices and that each of the plurality of computing devices is configured to interact with an instance of the multi-player game.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program instructions further program the host computer to:

determine that the first player has purchased the in-game item in relation to the gameplay session;

determine a subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item; and

match the first player to play in the subsequent gameplay session based upon said determination of the subsequent gameplay session that caters to use of the in-game item.