# US 2018/0322518 A1 · System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space

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- Number: US 2018/0322518 A1
- Document ID: US20180322518A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/034,857
- Filed: 2018-07-13
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-22
- Assignees: Kabam, Inc.
- Applicants: Kabam, Inc.
- Inventors: John Kim; Kevin Lee; Kevin Chanthasiriphan; Wei-Ling Wu Deckinga; Tomi Huttula
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180322518A1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0209: {Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game}
- A63F 13/847: Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
- A63F 13/87: Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
- G06F 3/048: Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06Q 30/0214: Referral reward systems
- G06T 19/00: Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics
- A63F 2300/575: for trading virtual items
- 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
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Participation by multiple users in an online game through client computing platforms associated with the users is facilitated. User accounts associated with the users indicate affiliations having a functional significance between users. Presentation of offers to sell virtual items are provided to users having a first affiliation and to users having a second affiliation. The virtual items associated with the offers are distributed to the users having a first affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the first affiliation have accepted the offer and are not distributed to users having a second affiliation upon an indication that a threshold number of users having the second affiliation have not accepted the offer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system that provides virtual items to users of a virtual space, the system comprising:
one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:
execute an instance of an online game;
generate game state information that is transmitted to client computing platforms over a network, the game state information facilitating presentation of views of the online game to the users via the client computing platforms, wherein the client computing platforms are associated with the users;
maintain user accounts, the user accounts including user inventories, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users and include information indicating one or more affiliations having a functional significance between one or more of the users, wherein the user accounts include a first user account for a first user including information indicating that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and a second user account for a second user including information indicating that the second user is associated with the first affiliation, wherein the first user account includes a first user inventory, wherein the second user account includes a second user inventory;
cause presentation on the client computing platforms of offers to sell virtual items to the users such that a first offer to sell virtual items is presented to at least the first user and the second user, wherein the first offer is associated with parameters, wherein the parameters include:
(i) a first set of virtual items that are offered for sale, and
(ii) a first associated user cost to be exchanged by individual ones of the users that accept the first offer,
and wherein an individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer is adjusted responsive to a number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting a threshold number of acceptances;
receive one or more user inputs indicating one or more acceptances of the offers by one or more of the users, including receiving a first user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the first user and a second user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the second user;
determine whether the number of the users, associated with the first affiliation, that accept the first offer meets the threshold number of acceptances;
distribute the virtual items to the users associated with one or more affiliations responsive to receiving acceptances of the offers and responsive to receiving the threshold number of acceptances, wherein distribution of the virtual items includes:
(i) responsive to receiving at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has been adjusted, and
(ii) responsive to failing to receive at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has not been adjusted.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user accounts further include a third user account for a third user including information indicating that the third user is associated with a second affiliation, and wherein the one or more physical processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to cause presentation of the first offer to sell virtual items to the third user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer that is adjusted includes the first associated user cost, such that the first associated user cost is reduced responsive to the number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting the threshold number of acceptances.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer that is adjusted includes the first set of virtual items that are offered for sale, such that the first set of virtual items is increased by one or more additional virtual items responsive to the number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting the threshold number of acceptances.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual items of the offers to sell virtual items have one or more benefit levels associated with a benefit provided to the users by the virtual items, such that one or more of the virtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items includes a first benefit level associated with the first benefit provided to the users.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the benefit level associated with the benefit provided by the virtual items of the offer to sell virtual items varies with a number of users having a common affiliation that accept the offer, such that the first benefit level of the first offer varies with the number of users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the offers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computing platforms are available during a defined period.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein individual ones of the users associated with an affiliation control the parameters of the defined period, such that the first user associated with the first affiliation defines the period during which the offers to sell virtual items to users associated with the first affiliation are available.

### Claim 9

A method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space, the method performed by one or more physical processors, the method comprising:
executing, by the one or more physical processors, an instance of an online game;
generating game state information that is transmitted to client computing platforms over a network, the game state information facilitating presentation of views of the online game to the users via the client computing platforms, wherein the client computing platforms are associated with the users;
maintaining, by the one or more physical processors, user accounts, the user accounts including user inventories, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users and include information indicating one or more affiliations having a functional significance between one or more of the users, wherein the user accounts include a first user account for a first user including information indicating that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and a second user account for a second user including information indicating that the second user is associated with the first affiliation, wherein the first user account includes a first user inventory, wherein the second user account includes a second user inventory;
causing, by the one or more physical processors, presentation on the client computing platforms of offers to sell virtual items to the users such that a first offer to sell virtual items is presented to at least the first user and the second user, wherein the first offer is associated with parameters, wherein the parameters include:
(i) a first set of virtual items that are offered for sale, and
(ii) a first associated user cost to be exchanged by individual ones of the users that accept the first offer,
and wherein an individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer is adjusted responsive to a number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting a threshold number of acceptances;
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, one or more user inputs indicating one or more acceptances of the offers by one or more of the users, including receiving a first user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the first user and a second user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the second user;
determining whether the number of the users, associated with the first affiliation, that accept the first offer meets the threshold number of acceptances;
distributing, by the one or more physical processors, the virtual items to the users associated with one or more affiliations responsive to receiving acceptances of the offers and responsive to receiving the threshold number of acceptances, wherein distribution of the virtual items includes:
(i) responsive to receiving at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has been adjusted, and
(ii) responsive to failing to receive at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has not been adjusted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the user accounts further include a third user account for a third user including information indicating that the third user is associated with a second affiliation, and where the one or more physical processors are configured by machine-readable instructions to cause presentation of the first offer to sell virtual items to the third user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer that is adjusted includes the first associated user cost, such that the first associated user cost is reduced responsive to the number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting the threshold number of acceptances.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer that is adjusted includes the first set of virtual items that are offered for sale, such that the first set of virtual items is increased by one or more additional virtual items responsive to the number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting the threshold number of acceptances.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the virtual items of the offers to sell virtual items have one or more benefit levels associated with a benefit provided to the users by the virtual items, such that one or more of the virtual items of the first offer to sell virtual items includes a first benefit level associated with the first benefit provided to the users.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the benefit level associated with the benefit provided by the virtual items of the offer to sell virtual items varies with a number of users having a common affiliation that accept the offer, such that the first benefit level of the first offer varies with the number of users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the offers to sell virtual items to the users on the client computing platforms are available during a defined period.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving parameters of the defined period from individual ones of users associated with one or more of the affiliations, such that the first user associated with the first affiliation defines the period during which the offers to sell virtual items to users associated with the first affiliation are available.

### Claim 17

A system that provides virtual items to users of a virtual space, the system comprising:
one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:
execute an instance of an online game;
generate game state information that is transmitted to client computing platforms over a network, the game state information facilitating presentation of views of the online game to the users via the client computing platforms;
maintain user accounts, the user accounts including user inventories, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users and include information indicating one or more affiliations having a functional significance between one or more of the users, wherein the user accounts include a first user account for a first user including information indicating that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and a second user account for a second user including information indicating that the second user is associated with the first affiliation, wherein the first user account includes a first user inventory, wherein the second user account includes a second user inventory;
cause presentation on the client computing platforms of offers to sell virtual items to the users such that a first offer to sell virtual items is presented to at least the first user and the second user, wherein the virtual items include a set of potential awards having a set of award probabilities, wherein a first potential award from the set of potential awards is selected stochastically or quasi-stochastically as an actual award for distribution to the users who have accepted the offer, wherein the first offer is associated with parameters, wherein the parameters include:
(i) a first set of virtual items that are offered for sale, and
(ii) a first associated user cost to be exchanged by individual ones of the users that accept the first offer, and
wherein an individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer is adjusted responsive to a number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting a threshold number of acceptances;
receive one or more user inputs indicating one or more acceptances of the offers by one or more of the users, including receiving a first user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the first user and a second user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the second user;
determine whether the number of the users, associated with the first affiliation, that accept the first offer meets the threshold number of acceptances;
distribute the virtual items to the users associated with one or more affiliations responsive to receiving acceptances of the offers, wherein distribution of the virtual items includes:
(i) responsive to receiving at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has been adjusted, and
(ii) responsive to failing to receive at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has not been adjusted.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the set of potential awards includes a desired award wherein a probability of selecting the desired award as the actual award increases based on a number of users associated with the first affiliation that have accepted the offer.

### Claim 19

A method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space, the method performed by one or more physical processors, the method comprising:
executing, by the one or more physical processors, an instance of an online game;
generating game state information that is transmitted to client computing platforms over a network, the game state information facilitating presentation of views of the online game to the users via the client computing platforms;
maintaining, by the one or more physical processors, user accounts, the user accounts including user inventories, wherein the user accounts are associated with the users and include information indicating one or more affiliations having a functional significance between one or more of the users, wherein the user accounts include a first user account for a first user including information indicating that the first user is associated with a first affiliation, and a second user account for a second user including information indicating that the second user is associated with the first affiliation, wherein the first user account includes a first user inventory, wherein the second user account includes a second user inventory;
causing, by the one or more physical processors, presentation on the client computing platforms of offers to sell virtual items to the users such that a first offer to sell virtual items is presented to at least the first user and the second user, wherein the virtual items in the offers to sell virtual items includes a set of potential awards having a set of award probabilities, wherein the one or more physical processors are configured to stochastically or quasi-stochastically select a first potential award from the set of potential awards as an actual award for distribution to the users who have accepted the offer, wherein the first offer is associated with parameters, wherein the parameters include:
(i) a first set of virtual items that are offered for sale, and
(ii) a first associated user cost to be exchanged by individual ones of the users that accept the first offer, and
wherein an individual parameter of the parameters of the first offer is adjusted responsive to a number of the users associated with the first affiliation that accept the first offer meeting a threshold number of acceptances;
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, one or more user inputs indicating one or more acceptances of the offers by one or more of the users, including receiving a first user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the first user and a second user input indicating acceptance of the first offer by the second user;
determining whether the number of the users, associated with the first affiliation, that accept the first offer meets the threshold number of acceptances;
distributing, by the one or more physical processors, the virtual items to the users associated with one or more affiliations responsive to receiving acceptances of the offers, wherein distribution of the virtual items includes:
(i) responsive to receiving at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has been adjusted, and
(ii) responsive to failing to receive at least the threshold number of acceptances of the first offer from the users associated with the first affiliation, distributing the virtual items associated with the first offer to the first user inventory of the first user and to the second user inventory of the second user, in accordance with the parameters, wherein the individual parameter has not been adjusted.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the set of potential awards includes a desired award wherein a probability of selecting the desired award as the actual award increases based on a number of users associated with the first affiliation that have accepted the offer.