KR20090072595A - Method for providing on-line game service linked with affiliated shopping mall - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing an online game service linked with an affiliated shopping mall is provided to induce users to a shopping mall site naturally through NPC, thereby constructing a new profit model related to an online game. If a user requests shopping through NPC of a game screen, a game server transmits an affiliated shopping mall page of a state in which the user is logged to a game client(S22,S23). If the user selects a product through the affiliated shopping mall page, purchasing price of the selected product is paid by online game cash that the user has(S25,S26). The affiliated shopping mall site notifies the user of the payment processing result through a window of the game screen(S27).

Description

Online game service method with affiliate shopping mall {Method for Providing On-Line Game Service Linked with Affiliated Shopping Mall}

The present invention relates to an online game service method associated with an affiliate shopping mall, and in particular, by using various NPCs appearing on the game screen while using an online game, so that various real products can be shopped on the affiliate shopping mall site without leaving the game screen. In addition, it is possible to effectively combine the online game service and the shopping service through the online shopping mall.

Due to the development of communication technology and the development of related technologies such as graphics and sound, various types of computer games are being made.

A computer game is a form of an online game that allows users to play with other users by accessing a game server through various communication networks such as the Internet network or a mobile communication network, instead of being executed independently on a personal computer (PC). It is developing.

Since these online games are played in a virtual space, users can always use them regardless of time and space, and the creative power of the game developer can be projected as it is, so that they can be made in various ways.

In addition, as the competition in the online game market is fierce, game companies are constantly trying to find a way to earn money using online game services in addition to the development of the game itself.

Revenue related to the online game service is obtained from the use fee of the game itself, the service fee in a PC room, and the sale fee of various game items or decorations required for using the game.

In relation to this, in the current online game service, only the commerce for allowing the user to purchase various contents used in the game through the in-game store is made, and the general physical product is not made. One of the reasons is that, due to the characteristics of the online game service, game users often enter the game and do not pay attention to shopping using other Internet shopping malls.

However, online games contain a variety of graphical elements, and there are many elements that can be reached visually. In particular, the MMORPG (Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game) type game, which is currently in the spotlight, is configured so that various non-player characters (NPCs) appear in the virtual space in the game.

NPC is a game object that is operated by itself instead of being controlled by the user.It does not simply display its appearance, but exchanges / sells the goods in the game while having conversations with other users' characters according to the programmed contents. It can be configured to perform various functions.

This means that the NPC of the online game can interface with the user to create any active situation in the game.

Therefore, if the proper use of these NPCs can be linked to the commerce of physical goods without disturbing the enjoyment of the game, it is possible to provide more specialized game services to users who are interested in shopping for physical goods, and create new revenue models. It will also be able to meet the needs of game operators.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to meet the above necessity, so that users can shop the real goods through various NF interfaces without leaving the game screen while using the online game, Its purpose is to provide an online game service method in connection with affiliate shopping malls that can satisfy both the demands and the needs of game operators that require new revenue models.

In order to achieve the above object, the online game service method associated with the affiliate shopping mall according to the present invention, the game client connected to the game server through the communication network to play the online game to enable the affiliate shopping mall site on the game screen Outputting a non player character (NPC); When the user requests shopping through the NPC displayed on the game screen, the game server communicating with the affiliate shopping mall site to receive an affiliate shopping mall page in which the user is logged in and transmitting the page to the game client; Generating, by the game client, a window in the game screen and outputting the affiliate shopping mall page; A payment processing step of processing a purchase price of the product by using a cache held by the user in the online game when the user selects a product to purchase through the affiliate shopping mall page; And informing the user of a payment processing result of the purchase price by the affiliate shopping mall site through a window in the game screen.

The N-fish may be configured to guide shopping at an affiliate shopping mall site while talking to a user character. In this case, the affiliate shopping mall page to be displayed in the window in the game screen may be configured to immediately purchase a specific product.

On the other hand, the payment processing step is the affiliate shopping mall site requesting the payment of the purchase price for the user to the relay server; Checking, by the relay server, an account database of the online game service to check a cache balance held by the user; As a result of the checking, if the cache balance held by the user is equal to or greater than the requested purchase price, the relay server subtracts the user's cache balance from the account database by the purchase price and sends a payment success message to the affiliate shopping mall site. Transmitting; And if the cache balance held by the user is less than the purchase price requested for payment, the relay server transmitting a payment failure message to the affiliate shopping mall site.

According to the present invention, it is possible to shop various real products in association with an affiliate shopping mall site without leaving the game screen while using an online game.

In particular, the use of NPCs that can play various roles such as appearing on the game screen and talking to the user while playing online games can naturally lead users to shopping mall sites. Accordingly, it is possible to lead to a shopping mall much more dynamic and fun than when simply using an approach to an internet shopping mall, to create a new shopping culture, and to build a new revenue model related to online games.

In addition, the user can pay for the purchase price of the product using the cache held in the game, it does not need a separate payment means such as credit card or mobile phone can be more convenient to use the shopping service.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system for providing an online game service according to the present invention, a user uses a computer 11 to play a game service system 14 through various communication networks 13 such as a wired internet network or a wireless internet network. By connecting to, the online game provided by the game service system 14 can be used.

The user computer 11 may be any computer device that can access an online game provided by the game service system 14 by connecting to a communication network 13 such as a mobile communication terminal as well as a personal computer (PC).

In addition, the user computer 11 is provided with a game client 12 for executing and progressing the online game. The game client 12 may be configured to include a computer program installed and operated on the user computer 11, and is generally downloaded and installed through the communication network 13.

The game client 12 provides various user interfaces for allowing a user to use an online game service, and exchanges game data in the form of a data packet with the game service system 14 to play an online game. Proceed.

The game service system 14 may be variously configured as needed, and generally includes a server group such as a web server 14-1, an authentication server 14-2, and a game server 14-3. In particular, according to the present invention includes a relay server (14-4) that allows the user to pay the purchase price of the goods between the affiliate shopping mall site 15 using the cache held in the game.

The web server 14-1 provides various information related to the online game service through the communication network 13 and allows a user to register to open a game account or to download a game client program. Do this.

The authentication server 14-2 performs a role of authenticating users registered as members through the web server 14-1, and the game server 14-3 communicates with the game client 12 through the communication network 13. It communicates and manages the game.

The account database 14-5 stores various game account information such as authentication information such as ID and password of each user who has registered through the web server 14-1, character information, game item holding information, and cache holding information. In addition, it stores and manages various information needed to provide an online game service.

Meanwhile, the relay server 14-4 is an element that performs an interface relating to a payment procedure between the game service system 14 and the affiliate shopping mall site 15, and the user operates the affiliate shopping mall site 15 as described above. It plays a role of allowing the user to pay the purchase price of the product to be purchased through the cache held in the game.

Here, 'cache' refers to a payment method that a user holds in an online game, and may be used for payment of a purchase price between a game operator and a shopping mall operator regardless of terms such as points, mileage, cyber money, and acorns. It should be understood as a generic term for the virtual value that is promised.

2, an embodiment of an online game service method associated with an affiliate shopping mall according to the present invention will be described.

First, the game client 12 connected to the game server 14-3 through the communication network 13 to play an online game outputs an NPC that allows the affiliate shopping mall to be used on the game screen (S21).

The type and contents of the N-fiche output on the game screen in step S21 can be variously configured as necessary.

For example, it may be configured to guide the shopping using the affiliate shopping mall site while talking to the user character.

Referring to the example shown in FIG. 3, the user may see an N-type 31 of a shop appearance appearing on the game screen 30 while the online game is in progress, which N-31 is a user character located around him. It is configured to communicate with 32 in a certain order. In the illustrated example, the NPC 31 outputs a dialogue content "Would you like to shop a good book?" While talking with the user character 32.

If the user wants to proceed with the game, the user can ignore the conversation. If the user wants to go shopping, the user requests shopping through the NPC displayed on the game screen. Then, the game client 12 transmits a message to the game server 14-3 that the user wants to shop at the affiliate shopping mall (S22).

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the user may inform that he or she is going to shop by clicking the 'Yes' button shown in the dialogue.

The game server 14-3 which receives the shopping request message from the game client 12 through step S22 communicates with the affiliate shopping mall site 15 to receive the affiliate shopping mall page in which the user is logged in and receives the game client 12. Is transmitted to (S23).

In detail, a process in which step S23 is performed, the game server 14-3 transmits user authentication information for authenticating the corresponding user to the affiliate shopping mall site 15, and the affiliate shopping mall site 15 sends a game server ( According to the user authentication information received from 14-3), the affiliated shopping mall page in the logged-in state (Log-In) is transferred to the game server 14-3, and the game server 14-3 transmits the affiliate shopping mall page. To the game client 12.

That is, the affiliate shopping mall page that the game server 14-3 delivers to the game client 12 is an authenticated page, and the user does not need to log in again later. Through step S23, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 may know who the user is accessing through the shopping mall page.

In addition, the shopping mall page transmitted from the affiliate shopping mall site 15 to the game client 12 through the game server 14-3 in step S23 may be variously set as necessary. For example, it may be an initial homepage provided by the affiliate shopping mall site 15, but if the NPC that the user used to request shopping was to intensively promote a specific product, the shopping mall page where the product can be immediately purchased It can be configured in the form of.

In addition, the affiliate shopping mall page may be configured to surf a variety of pages constituting the affiliate shopping mall site, such as a general Internet browser, or may be configured in a limited form so as to only guide and purchase a specific product.

The game client 12 which receives the affiliate shopping mall page from the game server 14-3 through step S23 generates a window in the game screen and outputs the affiliate shopping mall page in the window (S24).

That is, a separate window 41 appears in the game screen 30 as shown in the example shown in FIG. 4, and the affiliate shopping mall page received from the game server 14-3 through step S23 is displayed in the window 41. Is output. Accordingly, the user is able to use the affiliate shopping mall site, and as described above, the shopping mall page displayed on the window 41 is already logged in, so the user does not need to log in to the affiliate shopping mall site separately.

Now, the user surfs the affiliate shopping mall site and selects a desired product to request a purchase (S25).

In step S25, when the user selects a product to purchase, a procedure for paying the purchase price should be performed. In general, payment can be made by using a payment method such as a credit card or a mobile phone used in an internet shopping mall. However, the payment processing procedure according to the present invention pays for the purchase of a product using a cache that a user holds in an online game. Process to be able to pay (S26).

That is, according to the present invention, a subject (participating shopping mall site) for allowing a user to shop for a product to be purchased and a subject (game service site) for managing a payment method are separated, and the relay server 14-4 is provided between the two subjects. Interface.

The affiliate shopping mall site 15 notifies the user via the window 41 of the game screen whether or not the purchase is normally made according to the payment processing result at step S26 (S27).

If the user's shopping procedure is normally completed in step S27, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 will proceed to post-processing, such as preparing to deliver the product to the user.

Referring to FIG. 5, the payment processing performed in step S26 will be described in detail.

First, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 requests the payment of the purchase price for the corresponding user to the relay server 14-4 (S51). In step S51, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 transmits the user information and the information on the purchase amount to the relay server 14-4.

Then, the relay server 14-4 checks the account database 14-5 and checks the cache balance currently held by the user (S52).

As a result of the check in step S52, if the cash balance currently held by the user is less than the purchase price requested for payment in step S51 (S53), since the payment cannot be processed, the relay server 14-4 may execute the affiliate shopping mall site ( 15) and transmits a message indicating a payment failure (S54), the affiliate shopping mall site 15 through the window 41 displayed on the user's game screen to inform you that the payment was not made normally due to lack of balance Print it out.

However, if the result of the check in step S52 indicates that the cash balance currently held by the user is greater than or equal to the purchase price requested for payment in step S51 (S53), the payment server 14-4 does not interfere with the payment, and thus the relay server 14-4 may execute the affiliate shopping mall site 15. In step S56, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 outputs a message indicating that the payment is normally made through the window 41 displayed on the user's game screen (S57).

In addition, the relay server 14-4 subtracts the user's cash balance from the account database 14-5 by the purchase price (S58). In FIG. 5, the process of transmitting a payment success message to the user (S56 and S57) is shown earlier than the process of updating the user's account balance (S58). However, each process may be changed in order, or may be performed simultaneously. Of course it is.

6, an example of the overall process of shopping in connection with an online game according to the present invention will be described.

When the user requests the use of the affiliate shopping mall through the store NPC appearing on the game screen 30 while using the online game, the game server 14-3 transmits the user authentication information to the affiliate shopping mall site 15. Then, the affiliate shopping mall receives the authenticated affiliate shopping mall page of the logged-in state from the affiliate shopping mall site 15 and transmits the same to the game client 12. Then, the game client 12 outputs the affiliate shopping mall page through a separate window 41.

Now, the user starts from the affiliate shopping mall page and shops various products (or specific products) serviced by the affiliate shopping mall site, selects a desired product, and requests a purchase.

In response to a user's purchase request, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 transmits the purchase price of the user to the relay server 14-4 to request payment, and the relay server 14-4 requests the account database 14-5. Check to see if the cash balance of the user is greater than the purchase price requested for payment.

If the result of the check is that the user's cash balance is greater than or equal to the requested purchase price, the relay server 14-4 sends a payment success message to the affiliate shopping mall site 15 and purchases from the corresponding user account in the account database 14-5. Deduct the price.

Meanwhile, the affiliate shopping mall site 15 sends a message to the window 41 displayed on the user's game screen according to the payment success message received from the relay server 14-4, indicating that the payment is successful and the purchase of the corresponding product is completed. Print it out.

The above-described embodiments are intended to help the understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified and implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. to be.

1 is an example of a system for providing an online game service in accordance with the present invention;

2 is an embodiment of an online game service method associated with an affiliate shopping mall according to the present invention;

3 is an example of the appearance of being guided to the shopping mall through the N-fish appearing on the game screen,

4 illustrates an example in which an affiliate shopping mall page is output through a separate window;

5 is an example of a payment procedure using an in-game cache held by a user;

6 is an overview of the entire process of shopping in an affiliated shopping mall in association with an online game according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

11: Your Computer 12: Game Client

13: Network 14: Game Service System

14-1: Web Server 14-2: Authentication Server

14-3: Game Server 14-4: Relay Server

14-5: Account Database 15: Affiliate Store Site

30: Game screen 31: NPC

41: affiliate shopping mall output window

Claims (4)

Outputting a non-player character (NPC) that allows a game client connected to a game server through a network to play an online game to use an affiliate shopping mall site on a game screen; When the user requests shopping through the NPC displayed on the game screen, the game server communicating with the affiliate shopping mall site to receive an affiliate shopping mall page in which the user is logged in and transmitting the page to the game client; Generating, by the game client, a window in the game screen and outputting the affiliate shopping mall page; A payment processing step of processing, when a user selects a product to purchase through the affiliate shopping mall page, the purchase price of the selected product can be settled using a cache held by the user in the online game; And And informing the user of a payment processing result of the purchase price by the affiliate shopping mall site through a window in the game screen. The method of claim 1, The n-fish is an online game service method associated with an affiliate shopping mall, characterized in that configured to guide the shopping on the affiliate shopping mall site while talking to the user character. The method of claim 2, The affiliate shopping mall page to be displayed in the window in the game screen is configured to be able to purchase a specific product immediately online game service method in conjunction with the affiliate shopping mall. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment processing step Requesting payment of the purchase price for the user from the affiliate shopping mall site to a relay server; Checking, by the relay server, an account database of the online game service system to check a cache balance held by the user; As a result of the checking, if the cash balance held by the user is equal to or larger than the purchase price requested for payment, the relay server subtracts the cash balance of the user from the account database by the purchase price and sends a payment success message to the affiliate shopping mall site. Transmitting; And The relay server transmits a payment failure message to the affiliate shopping mall site if the cash balance held by the user is less than the purchase price requested for payment. Online game service method.

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