Unlocking emoticons using feature codes

A computer comprising a non-transitory, computer-accessible memory and a processor, the computer being programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

• displaying a first graphic in a chat interface that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message prepared by the sender using the computer to be transmitted over a communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message using another computer during a chat session, wherein
• chat interface displayed by the computer excludes from selection by the sender to be included in the first chat message a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message, and is presented within a game environment where the sender and the recipient each control a virtual character during participation in an activity involving navigation of the game environment using the virtual character controlled by the sender;
• transmitting content of the first chat message entered by the sender into the chat interface over the communication network, the content comprising the first graphic;
• in response to the sender registering a manufactured good based on a code associated with the manufactured good, displaying the chat interface comprising the restricted graphic to the sender and allowing selection by the sender of the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message prepared using the computer to be transmitted over the communication network, wherein the first graphic and the restricted graphic each comprises an appearance that graphically conveys a different expression from the virtual character controlled by the sender within the game environment;
• transmitting the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic over the communication network to be delivered to a recipient of the second chat message to be presented to the recipient by a different computer connected to the communication network in a manner that suggests the virtual character controlled by the sender within the game environment issued the second chat message;
• displaying a seasonal graphic associated with a holiday to the sender during a corresponding holiday season;
• and
• allowing the sender to select the seasonal graphic for inclusion in a seasonal chat message, wherein the seasonal graphic is not presented to the sender for selection in the seasonal chat message outside of the corresponding holiday season.

A method of transmitting a graphic over a communication network, the method comprising:

• using a computer operatively connected to the communication network, displaying a first graphic in a chat interface that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message prepared by the sender using the computer to be transmitted over the communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message using another computer during a chat session, wherein the chat interface excludes from selection by the sender to be included in the first chat message a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message;
• using the computer, transmitting content of the first chat message entered by the sender into the chat interface over the communication network, the content comprising the first graphic;
• in response to the sender registering a manufactured good based on a code associated with the manufactured good, displaying the chat interface comprising the restricted graphic to the sender with the computer and allowing selection by the sender of the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message prepared with the computer to be transmitted over the communication network;
• using the computer, transmitting the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic over the communication network to be delivered to a recipient of the second chat message;
• and
• using the computer to display a seasonal graphic associated with a holiday to the sender during a corresponding holiday season, allowing the sender to select the seasonal graphic for inclusion in a seasonal chat message, wherein the computer does not present the seasonal graphic to the sender for selection in the seasonal chat message outside of the corresponding holiday season.

A computer comprising a non-transitory, computer-accessible memory and a processor, the computer being programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

• displaying a first graphic in a chat interface that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message prepared by the sender using the computer to be transmitted over a communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message using another computer during a chat session, wherein
• the chat interface displayed by the computer excludes from selection by the sender to be included in the first chat message a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message;
• transmitting content of the first chat message entered by the sender into the chat interface over the communication network, the content comprising the first graphic;
• in response to the sender registering a manufactured good based on a code associated with the manufactured good, displaying the chat interface comprising the restricted graphic to the sender and allowing selection by the sender of the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message prepared using the computer to be transmitted over the communication network;
• transmitting the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic over the communication network to be delivered to a recipient of the second chat message;
• displaying a seasonal graphic associated with a holiday to the sender during a corresponding holiday season;
• and
• allowing the sender to select the seasonal graphic for inclusion in a seasonal chat message, wherein the seasonal graphic is not presented to the sender for selection in the seasonal chat message outside of the corresponding holiday season.