- Number
- 9604149
- Published
- 2017-03-28
- Filed
- 2011-05-03
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Veprinsky; Michael et al.
- CPC
- A63F13/69; A63F13/85; G06Q30/0601
- Verdict
- Medium Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Physical feedback hardware indicating when a guest has met an objective within an entertainment platform (interactive physical object).
Abstract
A methodfor 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 onlinestore is configured to not allow the particular player to purchase the particular status item without actually having achieved the particular objective.
Background
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) So that the manner in which the features of the present invention can be understood in detail,a more particular description of the invention may be had by reference to example embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only example embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a computing system configured to implement one or more aspects of the present invention;(3) FIG. 2 is a more detailed illustration of the client computing device of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;(4) FIG. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the server machine of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention;(5) FIG. 4 is a more detailed illustrationof logic implemented by the online virtual game module of FIG. 3, according to one embodiment of the present invention;(6) FIG. 5 is a more detailed illustration of logic implemented by the online store of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and(7) FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of method steps for allowing a player who has met an objective in an online virtual game to purchase a status item indicating the objective met, according to one embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a computing syste
Claims
1. A method forenabling 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-worldcurrency, 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 theplayer.
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 particularphysical 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.
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 theentertainment 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 onlythe first physical status item available as a reward for achieving the first non-monetaryobjective; 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 playerhas 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 thestore 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.