US20090291748A1 - Economy games having purchasable and obtainable game pieces - Google Patents

Economy games having purchasable and obtainable game pieces Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090291748A1
US20090291748A1 US12/299,286 US29928607A US2009291748A1 US 20090291748 A1 US20090291748 A1 US 20090291748A1 US 29928607 A US29928607 A US 29928607A US 2009291748 A1 US2009291748 A1 US 2009291748A1
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Prior art keywords
game
player
pieces
piece
players
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Aaron Tavis Caswell
Marc Williams
Jonathan Tobias Spangler
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CAPTUREPLAY SYSTEMS Inc
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725105 BC Ltd
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Priority to US12/299,286 priority Critical patent/US20090291748A1/en
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Assigned to 725105 BC LTD. reassignment 725105 BC LTD. CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECORDAL OF THE SPELLING OF AN ASSIGNOR'S MIDDLE NAME PREVIOSULY RECORDED ON REEL 022625 FRAME 0341. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE MIDDLE NAME AS "TAVISW", AS INDICATED IN THE ASSIGNMENT. Assignors: CASWELL, AARON TAVIS, SPANGLER, JONATHAN TOBIAS, WILLIAMS, MARC
Assigned to CAPTUREPLAY SYSTEMS INC. reassignment CAPTUREPLAY SYSTEMS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: 725105 BC LTD.
Publication of US20090291748A1 publication Critical patent/US20090291748A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10—Services
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B19/00—Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass
    • G09B19/18—Book-keeping or economics
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G06Q30/0601—Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
    • G07F17/3232—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the operator is informed
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
    • G07F17/3232—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the operator is informed
    • G07F17/3237—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the operator is informed about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
    • G07F17/3272—Games involving multiple players
    • G07F17/3276—Games involving multiple players wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
    • G07F17/3279—Games involving multiple players wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match

Definitions

  • the invention relates to online games.
  • some aspects of the invention provide systems for managing pieces with which players may play online games.
  • Video games have experienced rapid growth in popularity in the past few decades, and the gaming industry has experienced corresponding economic growth. This has fueled development of a wide variety of improvements in gaming technology, and in computer software and hardware generally.
  • Skilled video game players can sometimes earn a living through their game skills and knowledge, but professional video game players are still relatively rare in most countries.
  • sponsorship money and tournament prizes a number of prior art games provide additional avenues for garners to potentially be financially rewarded for their skill.
  • One example is a game called “Project Entropia”, in which players may convert real-world money into a game-specific currency. Each player controls a character which may perform a variety of tasks in a game world to increase the player's game currency, which may be exchanged for real-world money.
  • Another example of a prior art method by which games can earn money is the sale of characters for role playing games (e.g., Sony's Everquest 2TM), and/or items which players have acquired using their characters.
  • characters for role playing games e.g., Sony's Everquest 2TM
  • items which players have acquired using their characters For example, a player may increase the level, power, experience, etc. of their character in a game world through skilled and/or determined play, and then sell the character to another player who does not wish to invest the time or effort required to build up their own character.
  • Such character/item sales are typically provided though a sales system which is ancillary to the game itself.
  • the inventors have recognized various needs that are currently not satisfied including needs for systems and methods which permit skilled video game players to generate revenue based on their skill.
  • One aspect of the invention provides game piece management system comprising a piece sales system for allowing players to purchase pieces operable for playing at least one game, an account management system for maintaining player accounts, each player account identifying pieces owned by a player, and, a game interface for providing the player with access to a game session of an online game, the game interface allowing the player to select at least one piece from the player's account for use as an active piece in the game session.
  • the player's active piece interacts with another player's active piece in the game session under control of the player, such that if the player's active piece neutralizes the other player's active piece, the other player's neutralized active piece becomes available to be obtained by the player.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example game piece management system according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows an example game piece management system coupled to example games according to another embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 3A schematically illustrates an example game world
  • FIG. 3B schematically illustrates example pieces for use in the game world of FIG. 3A ;
  • FIGS. 3C and 3D schematically depict accounts of two example player accounts according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 3E-J illustrate example engagements between the two example players' pieces
  • FIG. 4 shows an example Storm system according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 5 shows an example API according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 6 schematically illustrates some example actions made available to a player
  • FIG. 7 schematically illustrates some example actions made available to a game provider.
  • FIG. 8 schematically illustrates some example functions made available to a game session and a game.
  • Some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for implementing a new class of competitive electronic game, which may sometimes be referred to herein as an economy game. Any genre of video game could potentially be provided with the functionality to operate as an economy game through the use of systems and method according to various embodiments of the invention. Also, the new competitive and economic dynamics made possible through embodiments of the invention may encourage development of new genres of video games.
  • the game environment and the game entities that interact in that environment are provided separately.
  • the game environment may be offered by a game administrator for free, or at some cost specified by the game administrator.
  • a player must initially purchase a game entity in order to play with it in the provided game environment.
  • game entities may be made available to players free of charge for promotional or other purposes, but the game entities themselves will still typically be considered to have a cash-in value.
  • the number and type of game entities purchased will depend on the player and the nature of the game.
  • Hybrids utilizing this scheme are also possible in certain embodiments of the invention.
  • Some embodiments may provide an economy game that allows some component of play without requiring that a player purchase pieces to play. To entice players not willing to invest in game pieces, reduced capacity pieces could be offered free. Purchased pieces would be more powerful, and it might be part of the game dynamic that many weak threats posed by the non-purchased pieces create interesting obstacles that add an extra dimension to the duel that exists among purchased pieces.
  • Another feature of a typical economy game according to certain embodiments of the invention is that once a player's entity is neutralized in game play, that entity becomes available to be obtained by another player.
  • the player owning the entity that neutralized the available entity may in some instances be able to immediately obtain the available entity. In other instances the player owning the entity that neutralized the available entity may have to wait for some specified time period or may have to perform some further action in order to obtain the available entity.
  • Obtaining a game entity via game play affords advantages for the obtaining player in an economy game.
  • One advantage is that the player may increase his or her own playing power (depending on the type of game) at no additional cost.
  • Another advantage is that the obtaining player has the potential to generate revenue by selling the entity through a sale system provided according to certain embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, revenue will concurrently be generated for the game provider each time a sale or “resale” transaction takes place in an economy game.
  • FIG. 1 shows a system 100 according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • System 100 comprises a piece sales system 102 , an account management system 104 and a game interface 106 .
  • Each player using system 100 has an account managed by account management system 104 .
  • a player purchases pieces for playing games using piece sales system 102 , and information identifying the purchased pieces is provided to account management system 104 , as indicated by arrow 108 , to be recorded in the payer's account.
  • the player may selectively activate pieces in his or her account, which causes information identifying the activated pieces to be provided to game interface 106 , as indicated by arrow 110 .
  • the active pieces may be used to engage other players' active pieces in a game world in accordance with rules specified by a game administrator, and the player has the opportunity to neutralize and obtain the other players' active pieces through skilled game play.
  • Information identifying obtained pieces is provided to account management system 104 , as indicated by arrow 112 , so that the obtained pieces may be credited to the player's account.
  • the player may select any pieces in his or her account which are not currently active to sell, which permits the pieces for sale to be exchanged for a fixed or fluctuating amount of cash, credit or equivalent though piece sales system 102 .
  • Such a sale or “cashing in” of a piece causes information identifying the piece for sale to be provided to piece sales system 102 , as indicated by arrow 114 .
  • cashing-in of a piece may be accomplished via a sale to another player.
  • funds/credits are transferred to the selling player's account once a buy request has been received for the piece being sold.
  • a player may directly cash-in pieces to the game administration or other designated piece purchaser. In such embodiments, funds are transferred to the selling player's account directly after the sale request has been received.
  • FIG. 2 shows an example game piece management system 200 providing access to two games according to another embodiment of the invention. Although two players and two games are illustrated, it is to be understood that system 200 could provide any number of players with access to any number of different games.
  • System 200 comprises a piece sales system 210 through which players may purchase pieces.
  • Players may also sell their pieces through piece sales system 210 .
  • Piece sales system 210 may separately track unobtained pieces which have never been sold and obtained pieces which a player has offered for sale, and may implement a first-in-first-out (FIFO) queue for resales of obtained pieces.
  • FIFO first-in-first-out
  • the game administrator or other entity may purchase obtained pieces back from players through piece sales system 210 , typically at a discount from the price at which such pieces are sold to other players.
  • Players A and B have accounts 220 A and 220 B (collectively, accounts 220 ) coupled to piece sales system 210 in which identifications of pieces 222 A and 222 B owned by the respective players are stored.
  • Pieces 222 may comprise in-game or active pieces 224 , pieces for sale 226 and other pieces 228 which are not currently allocated to any specific purpose.
  • Each player may selectively activate pieces for use in a game referred to as Game X 240 X, for example, by providing an indication of active pieces to a Game X interface 230 X.
  • each player may selectively activate pieces for use in Game Y 240 Y, for example, by providing an indication of active pieces to a Game Y interface 230 Y.
  • Game X and Y interfaces 230 X and 230 Y may each verify that certain minimum requirements are met by a player's activated pieces before those pieces are permitted to interact with other pieces in the game world of the associated Games X and Y. Any pieces obtained by players A and B during game play are credited to their respective accounts 220 A and 220 B by providing an indication of obtained pieces to accounts 220 A and 220 B.
  • Players A and B may purchase and sell pieces in real time while playing Games X and Y in some embodiments. Also, depending on the types of games and pieces involved, in some situations pieces for different games having the same value may be exchanged for one another. This trading may create a meta game which heightens the gaming experience, validates gaming efforts, provides a new outlet for game play, and opens up possibilities for piece exchange markets akin to stock markets. This permits previously separate virtual economies to be tied together by piece exchange systems according to certain embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 3A illustrates an example game world, in which the example pieces shown in FIG. 3B may interact.
  • FIGS. 3C and 3D show example accounts of two players, Player A and Player B.
  • FIG. 3E shows an example engagement between a group of Player A's pieces and a group of Player B's pieces.
  • FIG. 3F shows an example outcome wherein Player A has unsuccessfully attempted to neutralize one of Player B's pieces. After the FIG. 3F outcome, the player accounts remain unchanged.
  • FIG. 3G shows an example outcome wherein Player A has successfully neutralized one of Player B's pieces.
  • FIG. 3H shows the example game world after Player A has obtained the neutralized piece.
  • FIGS. 3I and 3J respectively show the accounts of Players A and B after the outcome of FIGS. 3G and 3H .
  • FIG. 4 shows an example system 400 according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • System 400 may be referred to herein as a “Storm” system, and it to be understood to include various features which may not be required in all embodiments.
  • System 400 may provide means for economy games to be played within a web browser in some embodiments. In certain embodiments, games are by default integrated with Storm tools to allow them to be played directly in a web browser. For improved gaming experience in embodiments wherein real-time trading is not required, a game may also be enabled to play in a larger windowed mode, such as full-screen.
  • the ability to buy and sell pieces while in game may be enabled by in browser play implemented by utilizing the AJAX web programming technique, for example.
  • the storm system incorporates this technique to provide a game portal interface, account management, and game manipulation/play system, eliminating a major task for game makers who would wish to create an economy game.
  • Game browsing, account management, and game manipulation menus may be provided by the Storm server by means of APIs that are easily integrated with the game maker's game.
  • System 400 comprises at least one Game Engine/Server 410 .
  • the game engine (or game engine instance) is a program, typically running on a server or the like, that manages the game logic itself and coordinates Game Clients 420 .
  • Game Engine/Server 410 typically contains an overall game world view that it manages and sends (unique perspectives of) to Game Clients 420 .
  • Game Engine/Server 410 may also process player input received through Game Clients 420 and request information from other components of System 400 through a Storm Application Programming Interface (API) 415 .
  • API Storm Application Programming Interface
  • a Storm API 415 may be associated with each Game Engine/Server 410 .
  • each storm API 415 resides within the associated Game Engine/Server 410 program.
  • a Storm API 415 exposes Storm functionality to the associated Game Engine/Server 410 (and through it to Game Clients 420 ) allowing the game to utilize the Storm system (create edit user and engine accounts, manage games, gamesessions, pieces, piece transactions, etc.).
  • Each Storm API 415 may comprise a communication layer responsible for data packaging and connection security.
  • a Storm API 415 can both instigate updates through a controller and be updated in a publish-subscribe method by the controller.
  • Game clients 420 are typically provided by Game Engine/Servers 410 .
  • Game clients 420 may comprise instances of a game program, usually residing on a player's computer.
  • Game clients 420 allow player input to flow into Game Engine/Servers 410 and receive data and directions from Game Engine/Servers 410 creating a unique game world perspective.
  • Each game client 420 may interact with a Storm webserver 430 by means of a Storm Plugin 422 and a Storm Graphical User Interface (GUI) 424 .
  • a Storm GUI 424 may comprise web content hosted on Storm webserver 430 that provides much the same functionality as a Storm API 415 (minus in-game piece modifications). This allows game makers the option to use a pre-made GUI.
  • Storm GUIs 424 may, for example, be accessed by users via their web browsers.
  • Storm Plugins 422 provide links between Storm GUIs 422 and Game Clients 420 .
  • a Storm Plugin 422 allows for games to be launched within the GUI itself in a user's web browser.
  • Storm Webserver 430 hosts the Storm GUIs 422 and connects them to one or more Storm Controllers 440 .
  • One or more Storm Controllers 440 is/are the central component(s) of the example Storm System 400 shown in FIG. 4 .
  • a Storm Controller 440 may be capable of handling multiple Game Engine/Servers 410 .
  • one Storm Controller 440 may be provided for each Game Engine/Server 410 , or multiple Storm Controllers 440 may be provided for each Game Engine/Server 410 to provide increased scalability and collaborative opportunities.
  • a Storm Controller 440 can be viewed as having four general functions. First, it manages data transfer between Game Engine/Server(s) 410 and storm repositories 450 . Second, it controls financial transactions through a Financial Transaction Portal 460 . Third, it manages data transfer to and from storm webserver 430 and broadcasts them to any interested Game Engine/Servers 410 . Fourth, it may be responsible for identity validation, system security and cheating-prevention.
  • Storm Repositories 450 may be accessible by Storm Controller(s) 440 .
  • a Storm Repository 450 may comprise, for example, a relational database or group of databases containing Storm player, engine, game and piece data. Each repository 450 may be capable of holding the data for multiple game servers 410 . There will typically be at least one Local Storm Repository 450 per Game Engine/Server 410 , with multiple repositories 450 per Game Engine/Server 410 available if necessary.
  • a Financial Transaction Portal 460 may be coupled to Storm Controller(s) 440 .
  • Financial Transaction Portal 460 may comprise, for example, a suitable financial transaction system (eg: PayPal, Moneris, etc.) accessible by Storm Controller(s) 440 to conduct money transfers into and out of the Storm System 400 .
  • a suitable financial transaction system eg: PayPal, Moneris, etc.
  • Global Storm Interface Website/Webserver 470 may comprise, for example, a web-based interface that allows users to access and edit their Storm account(s), buy and sell pieces and interact with other Storm users.
  • Global Storm Interface Website/Webserver 470 may provide a central community venue for different Storm Systems.
  • System 400 may also optionally comprise a Global Storm Controller 480 .
  • Global Storm Controller 480 may serves similar functions to Storm Controller(s) 440 except that Global Storm Controller 480 works between a Global Storm Repository 490 and the Global Storm Interface Website/Webserver 470 .
  • Global Storm Repository 490 is another optional feature, which may comprise database(s) containing the Storm data from all the Local Storm Repositories 450 for all Game Engine/Servers 410 .
  • FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example API system 500 according to one embodiment.
  • API system 500 facilitates integration of an economy game infrastructure with existing gaming user interfaces. Game makers may quickly retro-fit existing games or enable new games to operate as economy games by integrating their multiplayer game server(s) with an API system such as API system 500 .
  • API system 500 may comprise game client integration tools, which simplify the task of providing game menus and account management.
  • API system 500 couples a game engine 510 to a Storm controller 520 through an engine-controller API functionality layer 512 and communication layer 514 provided at the game engine 510 , and another communication layer 516 and an API functionality implementation layer 518 provided at the Storm controller 518 .
  • Some example functions of layers 512 and 514 are listed in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 6 schematically illustrates some example actions made available to a player according to various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 schematically illustrates some example actions made available to a game provider according to various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 schematically illustrates some example functions made available to a game session and a game according to various embodiments of the invention.
  • FIGS. 6 to 8 are included for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to be limiting in any way.
  • a game world and the pieces meant to populate it are developed, and the game world is made available to potential players.
  • the game world may be made available free of charge.
  • a set of pieces is made available through an online sales system. Each piece is provided at a price. Each purchased piece is credited to a player's account.
  • Player access the game world and activate some nonempty subset of pieces, which minimally suffice to allow game play. The minimum requirements may be specified by a game administrator or the game developer.
  • the players' active pieces have the potential to be obtained and/or re-obtained through game play by other involved players whenever pieces are neutralized. Particularly, through competition, engaged players have the opportunity to attempt to obtain one another's pieces via the mechanisms of neutralization made available by the game developer and/or game administrator.
  • Neutralization mechanisms typically include capturing, defeating, killing, fragging, disabling or otherwise prevailing over another player's piece.
  • the player neutralizing a piece may be able to obtain it immediately, or some game play action may be required to obtain a neutralized piece.
  • Game developers may include special rules for obtaining accidentally- or self-neutralized pieces, depending on the type of game. 5.
  • Players are provided with the means to sell their obtained pieces to other players through a piece administration tool preferably in conjunction with and complementing the sales system used in 2.
  • Players may exchange pieces for cash, credit or equivalent.
  • Obtained pieces submitted for resale through the sales system are given priority over un-obtained or “new” pieces for purchase. Obtained pieces may have the potential to be sold at a discount to equivalent un-obtained pieces.
  • the sales system may optionally include or be coupled to a piece exchange system wherein pieces from a plurality of different games may be exchanged. Such a piece exchange system may permit a new market in game pieces to emerge.
  • Electronic game players are currently commonly motivated by increases to their characters ability or possessions. Players are also currently motivated to play games through a desire to increase their personal skill. Via the ability to buy and sell obtained playing pieces, a source of monetary reward is coupled with an increase in skill and available to those who spend the time to become skilled in a game.
  • Games implemented using systems and methods according to embodiments of the invention also result in new motivations for the game developing industry as well.
  • the players ability to obtain opponent's pieces further enhances the game makers potential for monetary reward through gameplay.
  • developers, by collecting transaction fees, can realize a continued source of income as pieces will continually be bought and sold through the piece sales system.
  • the motivating factors discussed above are complementary in many ways. For game makers it is desirable to generate a continued source of income as would be provided by the piece sales system. For a game player, it is desirable to have the potential to have some return on one's game playing skill as would be provided by the abilities to sell one's pieces and to obtain opponents' pieces. Indeed, both players and game makers benefit from the sales system. Obtaining opponents' pieces is a game-playing end in itself that game makers will find fertile ground for game ideas, and game players will find a motivating force in the desire to play a game. Purchasing and reselling pieces only further enhances the motivation for obtaining opponents' pieces.
  • sales/resale system several types may be provided in accordance with different embodiments of the invention.
  • auction based, and fixed-price based sales systems are suitable choices.
  • the choice of sales system implemented is dependant on the game producer's desires.
  • One type of sales system which may be suitable for some embodiments is the credit-based system.
  • players first buy credits, which are then used to buy and sell pieces. At any time a player may trade his or her credits for the equivalent cash value. So all purchases and sales conducted would strictly involve the exchange of credits through the sales system.
  • the prices referred in association with pieces refer to credit-based prices.
  • Systems according to embodiments of the invention utilizing credit-based sales systems may include several games that recognize a particular credit type.
  • players may use their credits interchangeably within all the games recognizing that credit type.
  • players may be allowed to trade their pieces from one game interchangeably with pieces from other games in accordance with the relative credit values of the pieces being traded. This gives players flexibility in what games they may utilize their investment in pieces.
  • a war-type economy game is exemplified by a multiplayer, online game in which players command and build armies. Using strategy and tactics, players attempt to conquer and out maneuver opponents' pieces in the struggle to obtain game related goals (For example, some game related goals may be territory, monetary, or perhaps an award of bonus pieces).
  • pieces may include anything that comprises the functionality of the army, for example: warriors/soldiers, weapons, tools, etc.
  • Several sales systems would be suitable for this task. Examples: a fixed price sales system where obtained pieces are always sold before un-obtained pieces on a first come first served basis; or a bidding sales system similar to E-Bay in which pieces are auctioned off to the highest bidder.
  • pieces are typically priced according to their game-playing value/power. Under the auctioning system, the price of pieces will reflect their game playing value according to market perception.
  • neutralization and obtainment may involve certain guidelines.
  • the actual methods of neutralization may involve killing, stunning, capturing, etc using whatever combat means provided, such as firing projectile weapons, hand-to-hand combat, etc.
  • a neutralized piece may instantly become obtained by the player who defeated the piece, or alternatively, a neutralized piece may remain on the battlefield/space until a fighting character from some involved player's army runs over the neutralized piece, representing a formal capture of the piece, and adding an extra interesting element to the game dynamics.
  • Standard on-line chess rules such as for example, those offered through YahooTM Chess, may be supplemented with the economy game format.
  • economy format chess game chessmen are bought and sold through a non-bidding type sales system. Obtained men are sold at a fixed discount to un-obtained men. Obtained men are sold on a FIFO basis.
  • a fixed price may be established for all men, reflecting the following guidelines:
  • Games may be played with or without time controls.
  • One of three scenarios result from any completed game: draw; win on time; or a non-time based win such as checkmate.
  • draw Whenever a piece is captured by a player, that piece is obtained by the capturing player for resale or to use in subsequent games. Therefore, in the event of a draw, each player keeps his or her remaining pieces and those pieces won by capture. If a player beats an opponent on time, the winner additionally keeps the loser's king. If a player manages to checkmate his or her opponent's king, the winning player keeps all of the checkmated player's pieces including the king. It may be desirable to add a coin toss feature to determine which player gets to play white first. All subsequent games, players alternate playing the white army.
  • Similar rules may be implemented for other types of games to address unexpected game termination. Such rules may vary from game to game, and may be specified by the game developer and/or game administrator.
  • the methods of neutralization may be the same as the standard methods available to kill an opponent's piece; i.e. Fragging your opponent's piece with weapons such as guns and bombs, etc.
  • the killing piece's owner may obtain the killed piece.
  • the new owner can now use the obtained piece to play with or reclaim the current cash value of it by selling or cashing out the piece using the piece sales system.
  • EGIS Economy Game Interface Server
  • Such a system may provide the online sales and re-sales system, and the tracking and online transactional infrastructure required to support obtainment and sales transactions.
  • An EGIS system will typically also include developer tools so that game developers can easily insert the required functionality that will allow their games to properly interact with the server.
  • an EGIS system may provide several sales systems types such as fixed price, bidding based and/or credit based sales systems. If more than one sales system type were provided, it would be up to the game maker to decide which sales system to use in the game to be interfaced with the EGIS system.
  • Pieces bought and sold are tracked and recorded by secure methods implemented on the EGIS system, and, very likely, those methods will be integrated with the developer tools provided. Some games may also be required to track their own pieces.
  • the tracking system implemented in such games must be synchronized with the piece verification and tracking system implemented on the EGIS system. Therefore, standardized methods to implement the game tracking systems and synchronize the game and EGIS tracking systems may be provided as part of the EGIS system.
  • the client and server components of the EGIS system may provide capabilities to register obtainments, and verify, or at least guarantee, ownership and uniqueness of obtained pieces.
  • the EGIS system may also optionally provide centralized Internet hosting for game producers to locate and promote the game world components necessary to play the game in which the associated game pieces will interact.
  • the introduction of the economy game format along with the availability of EGIS servers will benefit the gaming industry in several ways.
  • a new and unexplored market is permitted to be opened by the new genre of games produced.
  • the format provides a simple and ready-made formula for marketing and profiting from games made; further, with the availability of EGIS servers, the tools and infrastructure are also ready-made for marketing and profiting from those games.
  • the economy game structure provides a source of inspiration for game ideas that previously have not been explored.
  • New paradigms in the video game industry, particularly new game styles and genres, have historically led to the realization of new markets, which have always served to enhance computing and gaming technology.
  • the requirements of economy games require technologies that either do not yet exist or are not yet developed enough to accomplish some of the needed tasks.
  • the on-line transaction functionality required by some embodiments must meet security, speed, and deterministic standards that will push the current technology to its limits.
  • the inventors expect that future developments in web-server push-based communication may be triggered by the economy games format, and may be employed in various embodiments of the invention.
  • the practicing of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention may provide increased demand by attracting potential new players into the gaming community, and the gaming industry as a whole would benefit economically from such increased demand. Historical examples of this effect are readily available. The introduction of the First Person 3D Shooter also had this consequence. A popular new genre adds diversity, jobs and more products to the market.
  • economy game formats provide a more “true” method of funding the actual costs of producing and providing a game compared to prior art formats, via the commissions and sales realized by piece sales systems.
  • Game usage can be judged by examining the rate and quantity of obtained pieces being submitted for sale, and the rate and quantity of pieces being purchased, so for some economy games, game usage will be reflected in the usage of the piece sales system. Costs may not be over or underestimated as easily under the economy game format as other methods, since they are collected as the game is used.
  • the funding for an economy game may be naturally collected according to usage and hence is a more “true” method for meeting operational costs than other methods, such as monthly subscription fees, etc.
  • an economy game can be conveniently achieved via commissions and sales realized by the piece sales system.
  • An appropriate rate of income can be generated with a certain type of economy game utilizing the dynamics of supply and demand which naturally manifest due to the combined forces of player interest, skill, game dynamics, the piece sales system, and the ability to obtain opponents' pieces.
  • an economy game will generally adhere to the expected checks and balances typical of any system subject to supply and demand.
  • analysis can be made to demonstrate the leverage this type of system could have in continually funding the obtainment transactions. Therefore, certain economy game formats provide a solution to otherwise prohibitive economic factors against the implementation and deployment of obtainment games.
  • systems and methods make available a wide and immediate market to the game maker, which may be a great benefit to smaller game makers.
  • a viral-type effect can be expected with respect to the spread and increase of trading and game play.
  • the potential for avenues of sale increase with every game that is added to the list as does the potential for game play. Since cross trading may be possible between games (so long as game makers choose to permit it for any particular game), the number of sales possibilities for a gamer playing a new game arriving in an economy games portal is not proportional to the number of players currently playing the new game. Rather, the number of sales possibilities is proportional to the number of equivalent valued pieces already existing in the totality of the games which allow cross trading.
  • Systems and methods according to certain embodiments also provide the potential for stock market-like trading of game pieces.
  • Market desire and forces may be allowed to dictate piece prices, and allow players, and/or investors to speculate on pieces/attributes they wish to buy, and sell; and for players, obtain as well. This could benefit non-game players as well as game players.
  • Systems and methods according to certain embodiments also provide the potential for team pooled play.
  • a group of players may agree to belong to a team account. Pieces obtained by members of the team may be pooled into the account, and hence the game-play resources as well as monetary benefit gained from the sale of those pieces may be distributed among the team members. These players may go into to certain games to play as a team. In some games, players can benefit from teaming up with other players in game play. Also, players can soften their individual loss potential with the pooled resources available under their team account.
  • Systems and methods according to certain embodiments also provide the potential for sponsored play.
  • Sponsoring entities may benefit by having their trademark or name be associated with skilled players of economy games. Also, sponsors may benefit by profiting off of the winnings earned by skilled players.
  • Sponsors could create sponsor accounts that give a player an amount of game play resources provided by the sponsor. Players could earn revenue through piece sales and split such revenue with the sponsor.
  • Sponsors could also sponsor teams instructed to play together.

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CA2681876A1 (en) 2007-11-08

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